GI mark for Joha, Komal rice soon

Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 17 – In a belated move, the Government of India finally proposes to apply registration of Joha and Komal rice of Assam as a Geographical Indication (GI). “I have, some months ago, asked the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to carry out a technical analysis of both Komal and Joha rice in Assam. And I can assure that once that technical exercise is complete, we will apply for a GI,” said Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh.

The Minister said this while replying to a discussion on the APEDA Amendment Bill 2008 in the Rajya Sabha on Monday evening. He was replying to a plea by AGP MP Kumar Deepak Das on the need to apply for GI for the two varieties of rice grown exclusively in Assam.

Ramesh said he was in full agreement that the Government of India needed to be more aggressive in popularising the concept of what GI is. "Dr MS Swaminathan is quite right that the knowledge of GI must increase so that the products that are special in particular region are protected," said the Minister.

Off late, a sense of urgency has gripped Government of India to apply for GI registration to protect the local farmers after Pakistan stole a march in trade marking Basmati Rice. The Basmati Growers’ Association in Lahore applied and got the Trade Mark on the word Basmati. The APEDA has objected to it but those objections were not taken into consideration.

The legislation passed by Rajya Sabha empowers APEDA to own the Trade Mark of Basmati. The APEDA would be empowered to fight for protection of Basmati.

Earlier, participating in the discussion, Kumar Deepak Das said some important varieties of rice, which were produced in Assam, were unique to the State. Assam has two well-known verities of Joha and Komal rice, which are not found in any other part of India or in any part of the world. “We need only water to prepare Komal rice. It is unique kind of rice, which is produced in Assam. You can prepare this variety without using any fire. This variety is very useful in the cold areas," he said.

"Only one variety of rice, that is, Basmati rise, has been included in the Second Scheduled of the Amendment Bill. I request the Minister to consider including these two varieties of rice in the Second Schedule,' he said. source: assam tribune