Amalsad Chikoo from Gujarat’s Navsari gets GI tag
The Amalsad Chikoo is the third fruit in Gujarat to get the GI tag after the Gir Kesar Mango and Kutchhi Kharek (date).
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Gujarat alone contributes 98 per cent of chikoo exports from India, and Navsari district is the largest producer of chikoos.The Amalsad Chikoo, which takes its name from a village in Gujarat’s Navsari district, was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in recognition of its “unique characteristics and deep rooted connection to the region, the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) said in a statement on Friday.
The GI tag was given to the Valsad Navsari Jilla Fal Ane Shakbhaji Sahakari Sangh Ltd or the Navsari district fruit and vegetables co-operative.
The Amalsad Chikoo is the third fruit in the state after the Gir Kesar Mango and Kutchhi Kharek (date) to get the GI tag.
GUJCOST, which is under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in Gujarat, along with the Navsari Agricultural University, facilitated the GI filing for the chikoo that comprises 30 per cent of the total production in the state.
Gujarat alone contributes 98 per cent of chikoo exports from India, and Navsari district is the largest producer of chikoos. The leading importers of Indian chikoo include the UAE, the UK and Bahrain.
The GI area of the Amalsad Chikoo includes 51 villages of Gandevi taluka, including Amalsad, six villages of Jalalpore taluka, and 30 villages of Navsari taluka.
“The chikoo is known for its sweetness, fine texture and long shelf life. The GI tag will provide legal protection and ensure better economic benefits for the farming community. It will also give farmers access to global markets, boosting the region’s economic growth,” a senior DST official was quoted as saying.
The certification acknowledges the distinct quality, taste and cultivation methods that make the Amalsad Chikoo a “symbol of excellence in Indian horticulture”, GUJCOST said.
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