Farmers' group appeals for using GI tag in exporting Chak-hao
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 24 2021:
Consortium of Producers of Chak-Hao (Black Rice) Manipur secretary Khaidem Sharat has appealed to local entrepreneurs and marketing agents to use Geographical Indication (GI) tag while exporting the rice variety from the state.
Addressing a press meet at the conference hall of agriculture department near Sanjenthong, on Saturday, Sharat said that the GI tag for Chak-Hao was approved on April 20, 2020 with active support from CSOs and public as well as financial support from the nodal officer of MOVCDNER scheme.
Subsequently, a Chak-hao Monitoring Committee was formed with representatives of ICAR, CAU, MOMA, farmers and the Consortium in order to produce quality seeds of Chak-hao rice.
MOVCDNER is financing the project under which Rs 7.10 lakh has been sanctioned to ICAR in the first phase and there is instruction to release another amount of Rs 5.25 lakh for the second phase.
Seed preparation will take three years and the process is crucial to conserve the original variety of Chak-hao, which would otherwise be lost in due course of time, he said.
Using GI tag in exporting the product will help in letting the world know that the product is from the state and it will help in developing relevant business in the state.
The state government is also in the process of issuing a notification in this regard along with formalities of using the GI tag and the same will be published in local newspapers.
One can also consult with the assistant project officer of MOVCDNER for any information, he said.