News Excerpt:
Efforts are being made to expand the cultivation of geographical indication (GI)-tagged Onattukara sesame.
About the scheme:
- The Kerala government has launched an incentive scheme for farmers to grow sesame on fields and homesteads.
- The aim is to increase the area under sesame cultivation in the region to 2,000 hectares, with incentives given to individuals, farming collectives, Kudumbashree groups, self-help groups, and joint liability groups.
- It is a joint initiative between local Krishi Bhavan, Onattukara Vikasana Agency (OVA), Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station (ORARS), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kayamkulam, and Mavelikara Thekkekara panchayat.
- It will provide financial assistance of ₹40 for a cent (435.56 square feet) of land for sesame cultivation.
- The seeds will be distributed from Thekkekara Krishi Bhavan, and the OVA will procure the sesame produced at the market price.
- It will also allow farmers and groups to use the workforce of Thekkekara Karshika Karma Sena and a tractor for field preparation and other activities.
Onattukara Sesame:
- The sesame seeds grown in the Onattukara region have exceptional medicinal benefits due to their high levels of Vitamin E and antioxidants.
- They also contain oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitoleic acid, essential for maintaining good health.
- In addition to the traditional Ayali variety, farmers in the region are also growing other varieties, such as Kayamkulam-1, Thilak, Thilathara, and Thilarani, developed by ORARS.
Other GI products from Kerala:
- Alleppey Green Cardamom
- Brass broidered coconut shell craft of Kerala
- Chendamangalam saree
- Kasaragod saree
- Kuthampully Saree
- Malabar pepper
- Pokkali Rice
- Screw pine craft of Kerala
- Wayanad Gandhakasala rice, etc.
Prelims PYQ
Q. Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status? (UPSC 2015)
1) Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2) Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3) Tirupathi Laddu
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q. India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to (UPSC 2018)
(a) ILO
(b) IMF
(c) UNCTAD
(d) WTO