What does Banarasi paan getting a GI tag mean?

The Banarasi paan and lambda mango of Varanasi have entered the Geographical Indication (GI) club as a result of which they will be identified by their origin.

On March 31, the GI Registry in Chennai gave the tags to two more products from the region. The Ramnagar Bhanta (brinjal) and Chandausi's adamchini chawal (rice) were the other two to get the tag.

The recognition with the GI tag is significant for the people associated with the production and trade.

According to Dr. Rajnikant, a GI specialist who has been working on the project for a long time, all four products are related to agriculture and horticulture.

"The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Uttar Pradesh government have played a vital role in the process to obtain GI tags," he said.

He also added that over 20 lakh people are involved in the trade of the four products with an annual business of approximately Rs 25,500 crore. The government had applied for GI tags for 20 products but 11 made it to the list.

He also expressed hope that the Banarasi thandai, Banarasi lal peda, tirangi barfi and Banarasi lal bharwan lal would soon get the tags.

Efforts are also being made under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme of the Uttar Pradesh government to promote the special products of the region such as Banarasi sarees and metal crafts and also obtain GI tags for them.

According to NABARD AGM, Anuj Kumar Singh, the government and the NABARD collaborated with Jaya Seeds Company Limited, Kashi Vishwanath Garms Company, Ishani Agro Producer Company Limited, Namami Gange Farmers Producer Company Limited, and the Horticulture Department of Varanasi.

He said that over 1,000 farmers would receive a GI authorised registration in the coming days, which would enable them to use the GI tags legally. This would also prevent counterfeiting of products and would bar such items from entering the market.

"This would eventually benefit both the consumers and producers," he also said.