Guwahati, May 9: Various crops and products full of nature’s unique features have managed to grab the world’s attention by getting the glorious GI tag or geographical index. It is on the basis of these crops or products, considered to be the intellectual property of Assam, that our farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs can make an important contribution to the economic development of the state. This was stated by State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora while inaugurating a workshop and exhibition on ‘Geographical Indication Awareness’ organized by North East Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) at Nedfi House in Guwahati.
In his address, Minister Bora said that Assam is one of the 23 GI tagged items in the Northeast.8 crops and products have got the GI tag. The gi tagged Karbi Anglong ginger of the state, Assam Orthodox tea leaves, boka rice, chakwa rice, Judima of Dima Hasao, Kazi Lemon, Litchi and Jaha rice of Tezpur as well as assamese gamosa have been able to get the GI tag recently. With proper marketing system, these products, which reflect the self-respect and tradition of Assam, can not only be taken to the world by our new generation but also paved the way for economic self-sufficiency. Pointing out that the Assam government has taken special steps to market the GI tagged crops of Assam, The Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, a renaissance has been created in assam’s agriculture and its allied sectors in the last two years. The state is one of the five leading states in the country through the development of agriculture and its allied sectors In his address, Minister Bora also mentioned about various effective steps being taken to make the Chief Minister’s dream a reality. He also said that many farmer producer companies in the state formed through departmental efforts have been able to open the doors of new economic possibilities by exporting Karbi Anglong ginger, Tezpur’s litchi, joha rice,, kazi lemon to countries as well as Europe and Arabian countries. Minister Bora also participated in the GI tagged registered certificate distribution programme to 800 farmers from Assam as well as north-eastern states by NERAMAC. NERAMAC was urged to encourage farmers to market demand-based crops to help increase the income of farmers. The event was attended by farmers’ representatives from different North-eastern states as well as different districts of Assam including Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Agricultural Production, Government of Assam, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, G.I. Expert Padmashri Rajani Kanta Dwivedi, NABARD’s Chief General Manager Navin Dhingra, NEDFI Chairman and Managing Director P.V.S.L.N. Murthy.
