Published 17:26 IST, September 7th 2023

Row over GI tag for Kala Jeera rice in Odisha’s Koraput district

The MSSRF contended that the application for the GI tag by a private company, identified as Jaivik Shree Farmers Producers Company (JSFPC), could potentially exclude local farmers from benefits.

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M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) at Jeypore in Odisha has raised objection to a recent vertisement published by Geographical Indicator (GI) authorities regarding formal granting of GI tag to Koraput’s rewned 'Kala Jeera Rice', often referred to as 'Prince of Rice'.

MSSRF contended that application for GI tag by a private company, identified as Jaivik Shree Farmers Producers Company (JSFPC), could potentially exclude local farmers from benefits.

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This allegation is based on belief that once GI tag is granted, applicant company would have exclusive rights to cultivate and market Kala Jeera Rice, potentially leaving or farmers in district without access.

“Kala Jeera Rice is an exclusive product of Koraput district and application for GI tag has to be done by a government ncy and t by any private organisation. Once a private organisation gets GI tag n applicant company will be sole beneficiary as it will get rights for its cultivation, which will put farmers involved in growing variety at a disvant,” said Prasant Parida, MSSRF, Jeypore, director.

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“Soon we will file an objection with GI authorities, which function under jurisdiction of union government,” he ded.

GI authorities have given a three-month window from date of publication of vertisement for submission of objections related to Kala Jeera Rice GI tag.

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According to Parida, while MSSRF has worked extensively for preservation and promotion of Kala Jeera Rice in district, it h never applied for GI tag as it should be done by government to ensure that entire farmer community is benefited by it.

“ applicant has drawn upon MSSRF’s publicly available research on Kala Jeera Rice while applying for GI tag,” Parida alleged.

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Prabhakar hikari, a representative of JSFPC, countered MSSRF.

He said, “JSFPC is an organisation of farmers of 14 blocks of district and its farmers have applied for GI tag for Kala Jeera Rice. If it gets it n entire farmers community will be benefitted and t any single organisation”. 

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17:26 IST, September 7th 2023