Special Correspondent
Panaji
The Goan Bebinca, Goa Mankurad mango, Agassaim brinjal and seven-ridged okra (Saat Shiro Bheno) have bagged the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.
This takes the total number of GI-tagged items from Goa to nine.
Before the recent GI tagging, five other Goan products – cashew Feni, Myndoli or Moira banana, Khola chillies, Harmal chillies and Khaje – were certified as being exclusive to Goa.
The application for GI tagging of Bebinca was made by All Goa Bakers’ and Confectioners’ Association, Colva, while that for Mankurad mango was made by All Goa Mango Growers Association, Panaji. The application for the Agassaim brinjal was submitted by Agassaim Brinjal Growers and Sellers Association, while the Goa Local Vegetables and Tubers Growers Association had filed the application for the seven-ridged okra.
The products were advertised in the Geographical Indications Journal on March 31, 2023.
Bebinca is also known as the ‘Queen of Goan desserts’, and is a traditional Indo-Portuguese pudding.
The Mankurad variety of mango is also called Malcorada, Cardozo Mankurad, Corado and Goa Mankur. The Portuguese named the fruit Malcorada, which means ‘poor coloured’, and with time, it became Mankurad aamo (Mankurad mango) in Konkani.
Agassaim brinjal is the much sought-after vegetable alongside the Taleigao brinjal, while the seven-ridged okra is a variety of ladyfinger unique to Goa.
Many other products from across India were also given the GI tag. ‘Jalesar Dhatu Shilp’ (a metal craft), ‘Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft’, ‘Bikaner Kashidakari Craft’, ‘Jodhpur Bandhej Craft’ and ‘Bikaner Usta Kala Craft’ were the other products, which received the GI tag, in addition to Tamil Nadu’s Jaderi ‘Namakatti’, Kanyakumari ‘Matty Banana’ and the ‘Chedibutta Saree’.
Some more Indian products receiving the GI recognition are Agra leather footwear, Rajasthan’s Nathdwara Pichhwai Painting, Kashmir’s Mushqbudji rice, Bihar’s Marcha Rice and Jammu Kashmir’s Rajouri Chikri wood craft.
The Goa State Council for Science and Technology (GSCST) is also in the process of seeking GI tag for more Goan products, including Korgut rice grown on Khazan land, Taleigao brinjal and coconut Feni.
Goa is keen on expanding the basket of GI-tagged products so as to enhance the visibility, guarantee and authenticity of the local products in international markets thus opening export avenues for them.
The GI certification is expected to boost the food processing industry in the state.
