India is one step closer to protecting Basmati rice with a Geographical Indication tag, with court hearings concluding on whether Madhya Pradesh should be recognised as a traditional Basmati growing area.

The Intellectual Property Appellate Board, which heard the case, has reserved orders on the issue. Its verdict will decide whether Basmati grown in MP can be officially recognised. This will have a huge impact on exporters and 80,000 farmers in the State.

The Agriculture and Processed Food Product Export Development Authority under the Commerce Ministry, which is the statutory authority for registration and protection of intellectual property rights including GI in India, has opposed the inclusion of MP as it is not a traditional Basmati growing area.

APEDA has included Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Western UP and the two districts of Jammu and Kathua, as traditional GI area for Basmati rice cultivation.

However, in December 2013 the GI Registry directed APEDA to file an amended GI application, including all areas where Basmati is cultivated including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and other areas.

The State Government of Madhya Pradesh and leading Basmati exporters Daawat and LT Foods, farmers’ organisations, NGOs have opposed APEDA’s stand in the IPAB.

PS Raman, the counsel spelling out APEDA’s stand, said that Basmati is unique to the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It is only the seven States that have traditionally been recognised for Basmati cultivation.

M Sai Deepak, Associate Partner, Sai Krishna Associates, representing Madhya Pradesh and five private parties, represented that MP has a history of Basmati cultivation since 1908 and at various times between 1960s to early 1990.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW