Geographical Indication (GI) Tags Of Andhra Pradesh

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Andhra Pradesh, also known as the “rice bowl of India”, is a state situated in the south-eastern coastal region of India bordered by Telangana in the north-west, Chhattisgarh in the north, Odisha in the north-east, Tamil Nadu in the south, Karnataka in the west and, Bay of Bengal in the east. Being the seventh-largest state by area, the tenth-most populous state, and having the second longest coastline in India after Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh is eminent for its rich natural resources, temples and rivers and is also known as the land of the world-famous diamond Koh-i-Noor and many other global known diamonds due to their source in its Kollur Mine. Andhra Pradesh has been bagged with 19 Geographical Indication (GI) Tags till now, latest being Araku Valley Arabica Coffee. However, there are 4 other products, namely, Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery, GCC Araku Valley Coffee, Girijan Turmeric Powder, and Girijan Honey of this state which were rejected as GI Tags.

The application for a GI Tag for Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery was rejected by the Geographical Indications Registry of Chennai in 2019 (click here to access documents). It is a handicraft product and its application for a GI Tag was filed by The Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery Park Members Welfare Association on 31^st October, 2013. The application of this product was rejected because of the shortcomings in the contents of the application. There was no documentary evidence with respect to the Historical Data from the Gazette and proof of origin of the product. The examination report required detailed product specifications, process and method of production adopted by the producers with specific uniqueness. The applicant was granted two months time to act in accordance with the examination report but he failed to prove the contents of the application and the uniqueness of the product to achieve a GI Tag. Application details of ‘Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Application Number	460
Geographical Indications	Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery
Status	Refused
Applicant Name	The Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery Park Members Welfare Association
Applicant Address	CFC, Complex, Jewellery Park, Village: Pothepalli, Machilipatnam ,Krishna, Andhra Pradesh, India, 521 002
Date of Filing	31-10-2013
Class	14
Goods	Handicraft
Geographical Area	Andhra Pradesh
Priority Country	India

The applications for GI Tags for Girijan Turmeric Powder, Girijan Honey and GCC Araku Valley Coffee were rejected by the Geographical Indications Registry of Chennai in 2018. Girijan Turmeric Powder (click here to access documents) is an agricultural product; Girijan Honey (click here to access documents) is food stuff; and GCC Araku Valley Coffee (click here to access documents) is an agricultural product whose applications for GI Tags were filed by Girijan Cooperation Corporation Ltd (GCC) on 22^nd April, 2016. The Registry observed 12 shortcomings in the contents of the applications and to comply with the same a notice was served to the applicant under Rule 31 on 25^th May, 2016. Also, the Consultative Group Expert Committee observed that the products do not qualify as Geographical Indications as per Section 2(e) of GI Act, 1999. Thus, the applications were rejected as the applicant failed to prove that the products were qualified to be Geographical Indications. No supporting documents were produced by the applicant for the query raised in the reports to prove the historical data, reputation, and origin of the products. In all the three cases the major issue raised by the registry was the validity of the product as a Geographical Indication and the same was not properly responded by the applicant.

Application details of ‘Girijan Turmeric Powder’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Application Number	548
Geographical Indications	Girijan Turmeric Powder
Status	Refused
Applicant Name	Girijan Cooperative Corporation Ltd (GCC)
Applicant Address	Opp: VUDA Park, East Point Colony,Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, 530017
Date of Filing	22-04-2016
Class	30
Goods	Agriculture
Geographical Area	Andhra Pradesh
Priority Country	India

Application Details of ‘Girijan Honey’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Application Number	549
Geographical Indications	Girijan Honey
Status	Refused
Applicant Name	Girijan Cooperative Corporation Ltd (GCC)
Applicant Address	Opp: VUDA Park, East Point Colony, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh – 530017, India.
Date of Filing	22-04-2016
Class	30
Goods	Food Stuffs
Geographical Area	Andhra Pradesh
Priority Country	India

Application details of ‘GCC Araku Valley Coffee’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Application Number	547
Geographical Indications	GCC Araku Valley Coffee
Status	Refused
Applicant Name	Girijan Cooperative Corporation Ltd (GCC)
Applicant Address	Opp: VUDA Park, East Point Colony, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh – 530017, India.
Date of Filing	22-04-2016
Class	30
Goods	Agriculture
Geographical Area	Andhra Pradesh
Priority Country	India

Araku Valley Arabica Coffee is an agricultural product, whose application for GI Tag was filed by Coffee Board on 1^st January, 2018 and the product was certified on 1^st March, 2019. The Application details of ‘Araku Valley Arabica Coffee’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Application Number	607
Geographical Indications	Araku Valley Arabica Coffee
Status	Registered
Applicant Name	Coffee Board
Applicant Address	No. 1, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru – 560 001, Karnataka, India
Date of Filing	01-01-2018
Class	30
Goods	Agriculture
Geographical Area	Andhra Pradesh & Odisha
Priority Country	India
Journal Number	111
Availability Date	29-10-2018
Certificate Number	334
Certificate Date	01-03-2019
Registration Valid Upto	31-12-2027

Araku Valley Arabica Coffee also known as the “coffee shrub of Arabia”, “mountain coffee”, or “Arabica coffee”, is a coffee grown on the hilly tracks of Vishakhapatnam district of the state of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha region at an altitude of 900-1100 meter Mean Sea Level (MSL) and is grown under the man made forest to a larger extent and known for Arabica Coffee Zone. Its botanical name being “Coffea Arabica”, this coffee is grown in the hilly terrains of Agency Mandals namely, Paderu, Pedabayalu, Munchinqput, G. Madugula, Hukumpeta, Araku, Dumbriguda, Ananthagiri, G.K Veedhi and Chintapalli Mandals. Koraput, Nandapur, similiguda, Pottangi, Dasmanthpur, Lamtaput, Laxmipur block/mandal of Koraput District in Odisha are included.

Araku Valley Arabica Coffee is grown on red lateritic soil which is usually rich in potassium, organic matter and acidic to neutral in reaction (pH) and is recognized to have the basic physical and climatic conditions which is required for coffee cultivation. The texture of the soil is sandy clay loams with optimum pH levels of 6.0 to 6.5. For the method of production of Araku Valley Arabica Coffee, the tribal farmers use organic manures, green manuring, organic pest management practices etc instead of artificial fertilizers and synthetic pesticides as they don’t have access to the same. Also, the Coffee Board Officials, in order to create awareness among the tribal farmers about improved agronomical practices including the usage of organic or bio fertilizers in coffee plantations and also the post-harvest practices of coffee production organize training programmes from time to time.

GI Tags of Andhra Pradesh are-

Handicraft Products: