18 specialities of Mysuru get Geographical Indication (GI) tag

MYSURU: The highest number of Geographical Indication (GI) tagged goods/products in the country are from Karnataka, with 42 products of the state getting the tag. Among the 42 items, 18 are from Mysuru, like Mysore betel leaf, Mysore Jasmine, Mysuru paintings, Mysuru Sandal Soap etc.
However, many of these products are facing extinction. For example, the famed Mysuru betel leaf farms are disappearing from the city limits.There are hardly any Mysore Jasmine growers in the city limits. The state’s industries department has recently launched a unique initiative under which the growers, producers and artisans get financial support for reviving them besides a dedicated cluster for their revival. Special incentives and facilities for exports will be offered under the scheme. Adding to all these, Mysuru is expected to become GI tourism and hub where the GI tagged products will be the major tourist attraction.
Joint director, District Industries Centre (DIC), D K Lingaraju said that the department will soon come out with an exclusive policy for the GI products. “Out of the 42 goods and products which received GI tag, 18 are from Mysuru and surrounding areas. Our aim is to preserve and promote them. We are planning a separate cluster for each GI tagged product in the district. It will be a big boost to the manufacturers, growers etc,” he said.
Sources in the department of commerce and industries said that the new policy is expected to be announced by September.
According to the authorities, the biggest challenge for the department is to revive these unique goods and products though some of them are considered as economically unviable. For example, Nanjanagudu banana variety is slowly disappearing while the Mysuru betel leaf cultivation is affected by real estate activities in the city limits. “Our plan is to extend support to the artisans and farmers to revive them with financial assistance. Besides, efforts will be taken to create international market for the goods and products. These will become tourist attraction also,” said an official from Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre (VTPC) which will be the nodal agency for the scheme implementation.
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
According to officials in the industries department, an SPV has been proposed for project implementation. “Once the project is launched, the new scheme will be implemented within two years,” said an official. Holograms with state emblem will be developed to certify these GI tagged products.
Common Facility Centres (CFCs)
According to the authorities, CFCs have been proposed in the concerned areas to help the artisans and farmers to promote their products, and avail all the benefits. The artisans will be provided with financial assistance to showcase their products at the international exhibitions in foreign countries. The department has also planned a digital platform for product-marketing.
Meanwhile, stakeholders feel that the need of the hour is to take the artisans and farmers into confidence. An artist engaged in reviving Mysuru paintings and Ganjifa arts said even though the initiative is good, there is a need to take the real stakeholders into confidence before finalizing the policy.