Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign or name used on products that originates from a specific geographical location possessing reputation and qualities of the place of origin. Generally, the products are handicrafts, food items, industrial and agricultural products. In year 2022, several products got GI tags from different states like rasagola from Odisha, black rice from Manipur and recently Kashmiri saffron also got GI tag. Out of 432 products in India, nine products are from Jammu and Kashmir having GI tags.
India is the second largest fruit grower in the world and produces varieties of fruits. Few of them like Nagpur orange and Tezpur litchi have gained GI tags but Kashmir being the largest producer of apple still missing the tag. The government of Jammu and Kashmir had forwarded 24 different crops and products for the GI registration. Several committees are formed by the union territory’s agriculture production department to undertake GI tagging of these products which includes Kashmiri apple, mountain garlic, walnut, red rice, Kashmiri long chilli etc. Horticulture is the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir economy where apple farming alone contributes around eight percent to the state GDP. Apart from this, nearly 17 lakh metric tons of fruits and 2 lakh metric tons of dry fruits are produced and supplied annually.
In spite of militant activities, hectic marketing, laborious exercise, Kashmir has always shown keen interest and exceptional contribution in the business with the country. Post independence, they have been continuously the major producer and supplier of apples. India annually grows around 2 – 2.2 million tons of apples and 75 percent of these comes from Kashmir valley but irony is that, Kashmir apple still hasn’t got geographical indication tag. Apart from that, Jammu and Kashmir have second largest area under apple cultivation in the world. Government of India has already taken initiative to help the apple growers of valleys by introducing Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to facilitate the price of apple. They also installed several sales counter in all registered fruit markets in the valley and it has evoked positive response among the apple growers. Under the initiative One District One Product (ODOP) of DPIIT, Kashmir also organized meet up for major buyers and sellers to promote trade and create market interdependence. Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) and APEDA has also begun initiatives to popularize the agricultural products of Kashmir such as apple and walnut, which will boost the income of farmers two to three times.
Farmer Producer Organization of Kashmir is also getting support and professional training from institutions like National Agricultural Cooperation Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED). Apart from that the UT administration is also providing high yielding rootstocks and developing hi-tech nurseries to raise rootstocks. Taking the advantage of land and climate, Kashmir apple orchards are maintained, hard work employed in the harvest and traditional growing method makes the fruit best around the world. Registration of GI tags on Kashmir apple will help to fight counter branding and will identify authentic and potential exporter, facilitates export of their products negating long chain of intermediaries.
MoolProviding GI tags to Kashmir apple will be an integral step for the development and advancement of economic interests in the valley. This will protect the ownership rights and prevent unauthorized business of the apples and will upgrade the financial gain to the underprivileged apple grower in Kashmir valley. Through direct marketing techniques, as the export of the apple increases, price of the GI tagged Kashmiri apple will also increase in international markets. GI tagging of Kashmir apple will provide protection from any kind of infringement, exploitation of products by foreign parties and most importantly it will help to boost the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. GI registration will help Kashmir apple growers as it will make illegal for outsiders to export the fruit under the name of “Kashmiri apple’’.
