About Goan Cashew

Context:

Recently, Goan cashew (kernel) got the geographical indication (GI) tag.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Cashew in India
2. Special Characteristics of Tangsa Textile
3. Geographical Indications (GI) Tag

Cashew in India

• Cashew is a significant plantation crop in India.
• It was originally native to northeast Brazil in Latin America and was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese in the 16th century, specifically in 1570.
• Upon its introduction to the Indian coasts, cashew was primarily seen as a crop for afforestation and soil conservation.
• In Goa, it occupies the largest area among horticultural crops.

Climatic Conditions

• Soil and Climate: Well-drained deep sandy loam soils are most suitable for cashew cultivation. Generally, various soil types, from sandy to laterite, are well-suited for this crop.
  • It thrives in the hot and humid conditions of the Indian coastal areas.
• Temperature: Cashew grows well in temperatures ranging from 20°C to 38°C.
• Relative Humidity: Ideal relative humidity falls in the range of 60% to 95%.
• Rainfall: Annual precipitation should typically range from 2000mm to 3500mm.
• Low temperatures and frost are not favorable for cashew plantations.
• Cashew cultivation is expanding to non-traditional areas in the plains of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and certain parts of the North East hill region.

Geographical Indications (GI) Tag

Definition and Importance:

• Geographical Indications of Goods indicate the country or place of origin of a product.
• They assure consumers of the product’s quality and distinctiveness derived from its specific geographical locality.
• GI tags are an essential component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and are protected under international agreements like the Paris Convention and TRIPS.

Administration and Registration:

• Geographical Indications registration in India is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• The registration and protection are administered by the Geographical Indication Registry under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The registration is valid for 10 years, and it can be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.

Significance and Examples:

• GI tags provide a unique identity and reputation to products based on their geographical origin.
• The first product in India to receive a GI tag was Darjeeling tea.
• Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags with 47 registered products, followed by Tamil Nadu with 39.

Ownership and Proprietorship:

• Any association, organization, or authority established by law can be a registered proprietor of a GI tag.
• The registered proprietor’s name is entered in the Register of Geographical Indication for the applied product.
• Protection and Enforcement:
• Geographical Indications protect the interests of producers and prevent unauthorized use of the product’s name or origin.
• Enforcement of GI rights helps maintain the quality and reputation of the products associated with their specific geographical regions.

Location of the Geographical Indications Registry:

• The Geographical Indications Registry is located in Chennai, India.

-Source: Indian Express