ByNew Delhi: In a welcome move, the Central Government has accorded a GI tag to Mithila Makhana through the Geographical Indication Registry. Such a move protects the farmers’ rights in Makhana (Fox Nut) farming and businesses. In this regard, a certificate for Geographical identity from the registry of the Government of India under the Ministry of Commerce has been issued in favour of Mithilanchal Makhana Utpadak Sangh.
Mithila remains appreciative of such a piece of work of the government.
The collective efforts of the people of Mithila, more particularly Mithilanchal Makhana Utpadak Sangh have paved the way for such an intellectual recognition of the region, and it is good to note that collective endeavour had borne the fruit
It reminds me of my flagship programme ‘Save the Paag Campaign’ which had the central Government issue postal stamp on Mithila Paag in 2017.
Notably, aquatic fox nut is mainly cultivated in the region of Mithila where paan (betel leaf), Makhan (butter) and Machh (fish), besides paag is a prestigious cultural identity.
Once Mithila Makhana has been registered with the GI tag, the region’s farmers will benefit a lot and at the same time, the cultural identity of the place will be shot in the arms.
There is a due process of registration of GI products which includes filing of an application, preliminary scrutiny and examination, show cause notice, publication in the geographical indications journal, opposition to registration, and registration.
*Noted self-help author and Chairman of Mithilalok Foundation
