'King of Mangoes' Alphonso gets a GI tag. Here's everything you need to know

The mango season may be long over but the 'king of mangoes' Alphonso continue to rule.

According to the latest reports, the Alphonso mangoes from Ratnagiri, Singhudurg, Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts of Maharashtra have got a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It was announced by the Ministry of Commerce.

Getting a geographical indication or a GI tag is an indication of a product having a definite geographical territory and possessing qualities owing to the place of origin. "Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality. Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus are some of the GIs," the commerce and industry ministry said in a release.

What is GI tag?

The Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection Act) was passed by the Indian parliament in December 1999. The GI tag was aimed at providing a recognition of products and goods in India and their subsequent protection. The registration of the Geographical Indications is governed by the Controller General of Patents, Design and Trade Marks. 

What is the importance of having a GI tag?

"Having a GI tag increase the overall value of the product as it becomes a speciality of that particular area. Consequently, it also benefits the rural economy of the country in remote areas, by supplementing the incomes of artisans, farmers, weavers and craftsmen" the ministry informed.

The product's registration as a GI also helps prevent the misuse of the name. 

Recently, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, launched the logo and tagline for the Geographical Indications of India and said that the GI will give the rightful share in the intellectual property to the artisan and the place of origin of the product.

Despite being passed in 1999, it first came into force only in 2003, when the first product got a GI tag - the 'Darjeeling Tea'. Other products possessing a GI tag include Kullu shawl, Coorg Orange, Blue pottery of Jaipur, Allepey Green Cardamon, Goa Feni, Nashik Grapes, Tirupati Laddu and various sarees from around the country including Kota, Banarasi and Chanderi. 325 products of India have a GI tag. The 'king of mangoes' is the latest to be added to the list.

THE ALPHONSO MANGO

(Image Courtesy: Getty)

(With Inputs from ANI)