Kari Ishad Mango - Its Geographical Indication Tag and Importance for UPSC Current Affairs

An Overview of Kari Ishad Mango

The Kari Ishad mango has been awarded the GI tag due to its superior quality, characterized by its distinctive aroma, rich taste, high pulp content, and unique shape and size, as per the Geographical Indications Journal of the government.

Image source: www.thehindu.com

• Besides Ankola, the Kari Ishad mango is also cultivated in Karwar and to some extent in Kumta of Uttara Kannada.
• In Ankola, the mango is primarily grown in villages like Belse, Shetgeri, Belambara, Mogata, and Vandige.
• The Kari Ishad mango is renowned for its sweet taste and high pulp content. Vandige village reportedly produces a whopping 600 tonnes of these mangoes in a season.
• According to the Geographical Indications Registry, the Kari Ishad mangoes are large, oblique to oval in shape, and a mature tree can yield around 2000 fruits in a season. However, they have a short shelf life of about five days.
• Interestingly, the Ishad mango has two variants - Kari Ishad, known for its thin skin, more pulp, and sweeter taste, and Bili Ishad, which has thicker skin and less pulp and sweetness.

Understanding the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

• Typically, GI is registered on products created by rural, marginal, and indigenous communities over generations. These products have earned a significant reputation at both the national and international levels due to their unique qualities.
• The GI tag grants exclusive rights to registered users to use the product name and prevents others from using the same product name if they do not meet the prescribed standards.

If you wish to explore more about GI tags, you can check out the linked article.

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