HT Bureau
DIPHU, Nov 14: A State-Level Workshop and User Authorisation Drive for North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) GI products and Karbi Anglong Ginger was organised on Thursday here.
The said workshop and authorization drive were organised by NERAMAC, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (Marketing) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), at the Farmer’s Growth Centre.
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Participating in the workshop, the Senior Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) said, “We are focusing on the larger interest of the farmers in Karbi Anglong, striving to ensure they receive fair market value for their produce. Karbi Anglong Ginger has already received the GI (Geographical Indication) tag, but due to delays in obtaining the authorization license, farmers have yet to benefit fully from this”.
“We have also submitted proposals for GI Tags for other endemic agricultural products in our district, such as Thengthe Lokso (a variety of maize), Large-Sized Sticky Foxtail Millet, Chubok Rice, Bonghom Bata (a type of pumpkin), Scented Ash Gourd, Karbi Anglong Pineapple, and Thengthe Bara (another variety of maize). Securing GI tags for these products will help preserve and promote Karbi Anglong’s agricultural heritage, while increasing market value and fostering rural development. Today, we submitted 200 farmer forms to NERAMAC for authorization licenses,” he added.
Anjal Kr Dutta, DGM of NERAMAC, noted in his speech that GI tagging is a marketing tool, and the GI Authorisation Drive is a key part of helping farmers benefit from it.
It is worth mentioning that thirteen products, including Arunachal Pradesh’s oranges, Tezpur’s litchi, Tripura’s Queen Pineapple, Dalle Khusani and Large Cardamom from Sikkim, Nagaland’s Sweet Cucumber and Naga Tree Tomato, Mizoram’s Mizo Chilli, Karbi Anglong’s ginger, Meghalaya’s Khasi Mandarin and Memang Nareng, as well as Manipur’s Chak Hao Black Rice and Kachai Lemon, have already received GI tags through NERAMAC.
The secretary, I/c Agriculture, Si im Taro, expressed hope for agricultural growth in Karbi Anglong, both in terms of production and market reach, through the GI Tag.
Dilip Kr Saha, deputy manager of NERAMAC, discussed agricultural marketing linkages with farmers, emphasising the benefits of direct marketing without middlemen. He also highlighted NERAMAC’s recent initiatives across the northeast.
District Agriculture Officer (DAO) I/c Nabajyoti Dutta encouraged farmers to recognize the significant commercial value of the GI Tag and to embrace its benefits.
The program was conducted by ADO (Rongmongve) Gauranga Chetia, and the welcome address was delivered by DGM Anjal Kr Dutta.
Present at the workshop were DGM, Agribusiness, Anjal Kr Dutta; district agriculture officer (DAO) I/c, Nabajyoti Dutta; senior agriculture development officer (ADO), Marketing, Karbi Anglong, Pirbi Tissopi; and district agriculture information officer (DIAO), Karbi Anglong, Serjili Hansepi.
