Geographical Indications Certified Bhalia Wheat
Source : PIB
Economy

What is discussed under Geographical Indications Certified Bhalia Wheat ?

1. Wheat Export in India ?
2. What is Geographical Indication or GI ?

Why in News ?

The first shipment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat was exported to Kenya and Sri Lanka from Gujarat. 

Key Facts

• The GI certified wheat has high protein content and is sweet in taste.

  

• The crop is grown mostly across Bhal region of Gujarat which includes Ahmadabad, Anand, Kheda, Bhavanagar, Surendranagar, Bharuch districts.
• This initiative is expected to give boost wheat exports from India. 
• Wheat Export in India ?
  • In 2020-21, the wheat exports from India witnessed a significant growth of 808 % to Rs 4034 crore from Rs 444 crore reported in the previous fiscal.
  • In US dollar terms, the wheat exports rose by 778% to $ 549 million in 2020-21. 
  • India exported substantial quantity of grain to seven new countries – Yemen, Indonesia, Bhutan, Philippines, Iran, Cambodia and Myanmar during 2020-21. 
  • In the previous financial years, only small quantities of wheat were exported to these countries.
  • Wheat exports did not take place to these seven countries in 2018-19 and only 4 metric tonne of grain was exported in 2019-20.
  • The volume of exports of wheat to these countries rose to 1.48 lakh tone in 2020-21.

What is Geographical Indication or GI ?

• Sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin.
• Possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
  • It provides legal protection to Indian Geographical Indications thus preventing unauthorized use of the registered GIs by others.
• Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• It comes under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
  • Registration of GIs began in the financial year 2004-05 after the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 came into effect from September 2003.
• Geographical indications are typically used for
  • Agricultural products
  • Foodstuffs
  • Wine and spirit drinks
  • Handicrafts
  • Industrial products.
• Geographical Indications Registry has a total of 361 GIs registered in India as of September 2019.
  • So far 65 Handloom products and 6 product logos are registered under GI Act.
  • Karnataka has the highest number of GI-tagged products.
  • Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004–2005.

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