Maharashtra’s King Of Mangoes—“Alphonso” Gets a GI Tag

New Delhi, Oct. 5: They say, “The only reason I wait for summer is to relish Mangoes”. And the good news is that the Alphonso mango, the King of all Mangoes, popularly known as ‘Hapus’ has been registered with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag recently. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu took special efforts for the same.

The Alphonso Mangoes are produced in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Palghar, Thane and Raigad Districts of Maharashtra. It has been registered as Geographical Indication (GI).  A Geographical Indication or a GI is an indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality. Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Paithani Sarees, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus are some of the GIs.

            The Alphonso mangoes are widely relished and demanded across the country and have great demands at the International platform as well. GI products can benefit the rural economy in these remote areas, by supplementing the incomes of artisans, farmers, weavers and craftsmen. Our rural artisans possess unique skills and knowledge of traditional practices and methods, passed down from generation to generation, which need to be protected and promoted.

            Recently, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, launched the logo and tagline for the Geographical Indications (GI) of India and said that the GI will give the rightful share in the intellectual property to the artisan and the place of origin of the product. He emphasized that it’s an area of strength and optimism for India, whereby GI tag has given protection to a large number of hand-made and manufactured products, especially in the informal sector.

            The king of mangoes, Alphonso, better known as ‘Hapus’ in Maharashtra, is in wide demand in domestic and international markets not only for its taste but also for pleasant fragrance and vibrant colour. It has long been one of the world's most popular fruit and is exported to various countries including Japan, Korea and Europe. New markets such as USA and Australia have recently opened up.

31 Products From Maharashtra Carry GI Tag including Alphonso

            The first product to get a GI tag in India was the Darjeeling tea in 2004. There are a total of 325 products from India that carry this indication, of which, 31 products range from Maharashtra. This product includes Solapur Bedsheet, Solapur Towel, Jamdani Saree, Puneri Pagdi, Paithani Saree, Mahabaleshwar Strawberries, Nasik's Grapes, Warli Paintng, Kolhapur’s Jaggery, Azara Ghansal Rice, Waigon’s Turmeric, Mangalveda Jowar, Bhivapur Chilli, Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri Kokum, Wagha Gawda , Navapur’s Tur dal, ambe mohar rice, vengurla nuts,Sangli  raisins, Lasalgoan onion, Dahanu Gholavada Chikku, bidace sitaphala, Jalna Storage of sweet orange, Jalgaon Banana, Kesar mangoes from Marathwada, Purander figs and latest to join this group is the Alphonso.

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