Measures on to expand cultivation of GI-tagged Onattukara sesame

OnattukaraVikasana Agency, registered owner of the GI-tagged sesame seeds, plan to increase the area under sesame cultivation to 2,000 hectares from current 600 hectares.

About Onattukara Sesame –

• OnattukaraEllu and its oil are famous for its unique health benefits.
• Relatively higher antioxidant content in OnattukaraEllu helps in fighting the free radicals, which destroy the body cells.
• Also, the high content of unsaturated fat makes it beneficial for heart patients.

Key Measures –

• Financial Assistance: Farmers will receive ?40 for a cent of land to support sesame cultivation, enhancing their income.
• Collaborative Initiative: The project is a joint effort involving local institutions like KrishiBhavan, OnattukaraVikasana Agency (OVA), and others.
• Seed Distribution: Sesame seeds will be distributed through ThekkekaraKrishiBhavan to facilitate cultivation.
• Market Procurement: OVA will procure the sesame produced under the scheme at market prices, ensuring fair compensation for farmers.
• Targeted Groups: Various groups, including individuals, collectives, Kudumbashree groups, and others, are eligible for incentives to promote sesame cultivation.
• Resource Utilization: Farmers can utilize resources like the workforce of ThekkekaraKarshika Karma Sena and a tractor for field preparation.
• Increased Cultivation Area: The initiative aims to expand sesame cultivation from 600 to 2,000 hectares in the region.
• Variety Cultivation: Farmers in the region cultivate various sesame varieties, including Ayali, Kayamkulam-1, Thilak, Thilathara, and Thilarani, developed by the Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station (ORARS).

About GI tags -

Background:

• A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is given to an entrepreneur or a group of businessmen of a particular area/ state/ country to manufacturer goods of exemplary quality.
• These tags are issued according to the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Key Points:

• GI tags are issued for products like agricultural goods, wine and spirit drinks, foodstuff, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• Top 5 states in India which holds maximum number of GI tags includes Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala.
• Tamil Nadu and Karnataka holds maximum number of GI tags followed by Kerala with 35 GI tag, Uttar Pradesh with 34 GI tag and Maharashtra with 31 GI tag.

Significance:

• It provides legal security for the manufacturer of unique goods originating from a particular place in the Country.
• The GI tag also helps customers to get the finest quality products of their desired quality.
• The GI tag is an assurance of authenticity. If manufacturers have a GI Tag then it is an indication that the product they are manufacturing is genuine.
• It also enhances and promotes goodwill of manufacturers of GI tag goods by boosting the product demand in the national and international markets.