The Agriculture Department has launched efforts to help farmers secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the famed cloves of Thalanad in Kottayam district.
As a first step, the State government has given administrative sanction for ‘Characterisation and Registration of Thalanadu Clove (Thalanadan Grambu) as a Geographical Indication,’ a proposal submitted by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) under a scheme for the development of spices.
“Farmers say the clove has distinct characteristics such as high oil content and when dried a dark golden colour. GI registration will guarantee exclusivity and better value for the aromatic spice,” Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar says.
“For securing registration, we need to show why the product is unique,” says C.R. Elsy, coordinator of the Intellectual Property Rights Cell at the KAU.
KAU Vice Chancellor R. Chandrababu says the university will undertake a biochemical analysis of the clove to determine its unique characteristics.
Aspects such as the history of clove farming in Thalanad grama panchayat and cultivation techniques, including the harvesting and drying techniques, also will be documented for filing an application, Ms. Elsy says.
Spice lore goes that cloves were introduced in hilly Thalanad by a family many years ago. Today, clove trees are grown in 130 hectares in the panchayat. The panchayat is now planning a farmers’ society to obtain GI. The local body is also encouraging every home to grow least one clove tree, panchayat president P.S. Babu says.
Other products
The IPR Cell of the KAU has facilitated GI registration for 10 agricultural products from Kerala including Pokkali rice, Nilambur teak, Marayur jaggery, Jeerakasala and Gandhakasala rice varieties from Wayanad, Kaipad rice, Vazhakulam pineapple, and Central Travancore jaggery.
