Latest news with #GeographicalIndication
India Gazette
16 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Indian coffee exports continue to grow in FY25-26 with 25 pc growth: Coffee Board
New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): India's coffee exports are off to a robust start for the 2025-26 fiscal year, showing over 25 per cent growth so far. This strong beginning follows a successful previous fiscal year, as per data released by the Coffee Board of India. In FY2024-25 the exports witnessed a rise of 40.20 per cent to stand at USD 1803 million (Rs 15292 crores), as compared to USD 1286 million (Rs 10645 crores) in FY2023-24. The report also highlighted that, India's coffee sector is demonstrating robust growth and a strong commitment to sustainability. India stands as the world's seventh-largest coffee producer, contributing 3.5 per cent to global production, and the fifth-largest exporter, accounting for 5 per cent of worldwide coffee exports. Additionally, the Coffee Board is actively promoting Indian coffees globally through various initiatives. These include organising buyer-seller meets, aggressive overseas promotional activities for 13 regional coffees and 3 speciality coffees, and securing Geographical Indication (GI) tags for 5 regional and 2 speciality coffees. Digital media campaigns emphasize the unique characteristics of Indian shade-grown, hand-picked, and sun-dried coffees. Domestically, the Coffee Board is boosting pure coffee consumption through various platforms, including e-commerce giants like ONDC, Amazon, and Flipkart, the report said. Furthermore, the establishment of the Atal Incubation Centre - Central Coffee Research Institute - Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (AIC-CCRI-CED) in Bengaluru underscores the commitment to supporting coffee-related startups and fostering innovation in the sector. This centre has already nurtured 63 startups and trained over 3,000 individuals through various skill development programs. The Indian coffee sector's focus on sustainable practices, coupled with strong export performance and strategic promotional efforts, positions it for continued growth and global recognition. (ANI)
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Made in India: Explore GI-tagged products in ‘Guardians of Heritage'
It is one of those balmy days in the midst of an unrelenting Chennai summer when I meet Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran outside Anna Salai's Philatelic Bureau, once among the first cinema houses in South India. Seated under a spreading peepul tree Senthilkumar, 47, is quite at home, unsurprising for a man who is passionate about philately and the way the postal realm transports him to distant places interwoven with tales of heritage and history. 'The book has been two years in the making,' says Senthilkumar, a chemical engineer and general manager with a Chennai-based waste-water treatment company, and member of SIPA (South India Philatelists' Association). 'It highlights the rich tapestry of India's indigenous and region-specific products that have earned the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag through stamps, special covers, cancellations and other postal memorabilia.' Released in May 2025, Guardians of Heritage was born of a blog that Senthilkumar maintained during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'I was a stamp collector as a child,' he says, looking back at life as a Railways' kid in Karnataka. 'Back then, we received letters often, and as a 10-year-old, I used to peel off the stamps from envelopes and stick them in notebooks. Birthday indulgences were about buying sheets of Indian and foreign stamps from stationery shops. Much of my early collection had definitive stamps, but my love for commemorative stamps began with one on Sanjay Gandhi. I rediscovered philately to break the monotony and stress of modern life.' Senthilkumar joined SIPA and built his collection — the themes included stamps on water, 'twin stamps' on the Olympics, Mahatma Gandhi and Indian heritage, coins and currencies. 'Every day I check the India Post website for new releases. Weekends are spent solely on this. And friends of friends have become friends because of philately,' he laughs softly. 'And then, I discovered the world of special covers and other memorabilia related to GI-tagged products.' Senthilkumar flips through these special covers encased in album after album, their unique colour and creation a representation of the rich cultural diversity of India. 'This collection took two years. Six hundred and ninety seven products are registered with the GI registry and I have showcased 402 in the book. The need to catalogue these products helped me collect,' he says. The covers are unique, each one a celebration of the product in modes that are raised, flat or projected. The one on Kanchipuram silk has a piece of silk with a peacock motif encased on the cover, the Santipur saree has its famous folds, the one on Kaipad rice has a grain, the Chamba rumal cover has a piece inserted that tells the story of Radha Krishna, the Nachiyar Kovil lamp is tactile as is the Thanjavur pith work of the Brihadeeswarar temple. 'I first began collecting on Tamil Nadu,' says Senthilkumar, adding 'some states have GI-tagged products but no covers, those from the Northeast have plenty but are difficult to source. There are also foreign products registered in India.' Prices also vary between ₹60 and ₹200 a cover and most are accessible except some of the sponsored ones. 'Around 2,000 covers are issued and one needs to keep an eye to source them,' he says, adding that the dealer-enthusiast network is the best way to acquire them. All this is translated onto the book that serves as a ready reckoner for anyone who wishes to know more about GI-tagged products and to the trivia collector who'd like to toss out nuggets on say Bardhaman sitabhog at dinner. Arranged under the heads of agricultural products, food stuff, handicrafts, manufactured products and natural resources, a picture of each cover has a descriptor, GI tag number, the date and State. 'The GI tag registry office has a certifying authority to check on the authenticity of the product information after which a journal entry is issued,' he says. Senthilkumar who is awaiting a cover on East India Leather made in Pallavaram, Chennai, counts among his favourites the covers on Bastar iron work and Tanjore dolls. He says, 'Collecting and putting together this book, with support from my wife, has been an incredible cultural journey into the heart of India.' Guardians of Heritage is priced at ₹1,950 and is available for sale online.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Industries department to showcase land, ODOP & GI products at RISE conclave
Indore: The industries department is planning to showcase potential land parcels, industrial belts and products falling under the One District One Product (ODOP) and Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged items list to industries and investors in the state govt's RISE (Regional Industry, Skill, and Employment) conclave happening in Ratlam in June. The industries department aims to attract investments on the 900-hectare land in Ratlam Investment Region, apart from other industrial belts in the conclave, to be organised on June 27 in Ratlam on the theme 'Successful Entrepreneur, Prosperous Industry, Inclusive Development'. The state govt plans to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and Walmart during the conclave. Rajesh Rathod, executive director of the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC) in Ujjain said, "The objective of the conclave is to focus on improving skill and increasing employment opportunities in the region by attracting investments from industries. We will showcase the Ratlam Investment Region to investors. There is around 900 hectares of allottable land in the region which will be offered to industries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo " Rathod said the ODOP products will also be highlighted in the conclave with an aim to enhance the reach of local products. An exhibition with over 100 stalls will also be organised at the conclave. Around 3,000 participants from various sectors, including textile, renewable energy, manufacturing, infrastructure and food processing, among others, are expected to attend the conclave. During the conclave, the chief minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for more than 50 industrial units and clusters, while 28 MSME units will be inaugurated.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Farmers' urge revival of coconut value addition centre in Shenbagaramanpudur
Coconut farming serves as a primary source of income for farmers across the Kanniyakumari district. The region has nearly 25,000 hectares of coconut plantation across the district, including the renowned Eathamozhi tall variety, which holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Traditionally, the coconuts produced in the district have been transported and sold to other parts of the state, as Kanniyakumari lacks major local industries that add value to the produce. To address this issue, a coconut value addition centre at Shenbaramanpudur was sanctioned in 2020, during the AIADMK tenure, following repeated appeals from farmers from the region. Although the project was sanctioned in the previous government it was inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in January, 2022. The centre was established at an outlay of ₹16 crore with the facilities to prepare desiccated coconut powder, dry coconut, virgin coconut oil, wooden press oil, coconut charcoal, coal blocks, refrigeration and packaging facility to tender coconut water and neera (coconut padhaneer). The facility comprises three main units: for producing virgin coconut oil, for producing desiccated coconut powder, and machinery for manufacturing coconut shell charcoal. Additionally, the centre also features drying yards, solar dryers and two large godowns with a storage capacity of 500 metric tonnes. However, despite its potential, only one unit is currently operational. Since the inauguration, the other two units have remained non-functional, leading to dissatisfaction among farmers and prompting them to repeatedly urge the government to take action to make the centre fully operational. Murugan, a farmer from Thengampudhur expressed his difficulties, stating that it has become increasingly hard for farmers to sell their produce at fair prices. He pointed out that in addition to dealing with pest attacks and declining yields, the coconut price had dropped significantly about a month ago. He said that if the centre has been functioning properly it would be really helpful for the farmers in securing a better price for their produce, instead of being forced to sell it for meagre sums. Chenbagasekara Pillai, a farmer from Thuvarankadu added the reports indicated the centre needs a minimum of 20,000 coconuts per day for smooth functioning, but the district produces well above that quantity. He highlighted the Eathamozhi tall variety's capability of yielding high quality oil and lamented that such potential is not well handled. He further said that the centre was a collective dream of the district's farmers to strengthen their livelihood and agricultural prospects. In light of the situation, Kanniyakumari constituency MLA N. Thalavai Sundaram released a statement calling for immediate intervention. He emphasised the need to reduce the increased electricity tariffs, which have become a major burden under the current administration. He strongly criticised the DMK government for failing to protect and uphold such a valuable initiative, introduced during the AIADMK's tenure aimed at benefiting the coconut farming community. He urged the government to take swift action to reopen and make operational the two idle units at the coconut value addition centre.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
GI tag sought for Kollimalai Coffee and Jackfruit
The Patent Information Centre of Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST), Chennai has filed applications seeking Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kollimalai Coffee and Kollimalai Palappazham. TNSCST is an autonomous organization under the Department of Higher Education, Government of Tamil Nadu. 'We have instituted IPR cells at 40 educational institutions across Tamil Nadu. And each of them have been allocated a product which has a potential to earn a GI tag. These institutions do the research work,' Member Secretary of TNSCST told The Hindu. For instance, College of Technology, Tiruchengode has taken initiatives to ensure the protection of the Kollihills Coffee on behalf of Kollimalai Collective Farming Farmer Producer Company Limited and Kollimalai Palangudiyinar Narumana Payirgal Mattrum Iyarkai Coffee Vivasayigal Sangam, he said. He further added: 'Last year, we shortlisted 40 products, and moving forward, we plan to file for a GI tag for ten products each year.' TNSCST has been instrumental in obtaining GI tags for Kodaikanal Malai Poondu, Dindigul Locks and Udangudi Panangkarupatti. C Samayamoorthy, Secretary, Higher Education Department noted that the state has been leading in GI tags and associating with educational institutions for GI tags is one of the important mandate of TNSCST. Kollimalai coffee is renowned for its unique aroma, flavor, and superior quality. The region's distinctive soil, high-altitude landscape, and traditional farming practices all play a key role in creating the coffee's exceptional taste. From approximately 2.5 to 5 kg of coffee cherries harvested from a single coffee tree, around 0.5 to 1 kg of green coffee beans can be obtained after processing. The coffee trees typically start producing flowers around the thrid year, with fruit maturing about 6 to 8 months after flowering. Harvesting is done once the cherries are ripe. These coffee trees reach their productive age between five to seven years, but they can remain productive for about 20 to 30 years with proper care. The application for Kollimalai Palappazham (Jackfruit) was filed by TNSCST along with Kollimalai Collective Farming Farmer Producer Company Limited. This jackfruit is cultivated organically at high altitudes in Kolli hills. Each jackfruit typically weighs between 2 to 20 kg, with well-developed bulbs averaging 9.5 to 15 grams in weight. The fruit is rich in fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and essential minerals, making it both a nutritious and culturally important food crop for local communities. Widely consumed in both raw and ripe forms, it is also processed into flour, sweets, and savory products, contributing to the livelihood of small-scale tribal farmers.
