Rajasthan seeking GI tag for more farm, spice crops

Rajasthan BJP government seeks GI tag for agricultural products to boost farmers' profits and protect intellectual property rights.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan has started the process to get the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the agricultural, horticultural and spice products covered in its ‘Panch Gaurav’ (five prides) and “one district, one product” campaigns. As many as 16 products and five art forms in the State enjoy the GI status at present.

While the “one district, one product” scheme highlights the geographical features of districts, the ‘Panch Gaurav’ drive focusses on one crop, one botanical species, one product, one tourist destination, and one sport in each district.

State Agriculture Secretary Rajan Vishal said on Saturday (April 5, 2025) that an inter-departmental committee would prepare a list of these special agricultural, horticultural and spice products and take action to get the GI tag for them. The GI-tagged products in the State include Sojat henna in the agriculture sector, and Bikaneri bhujia in the agri industry sector.

The high-level inter-departmental committee will comprise officers from the Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agricultural Marketing Departments, the Rajasthan State Seeds Corporation, Rajasthan State Seed & Organic Certification Agency, and the agricultural universities of the State.

Mr. Vishal interacted with GI experts and representatives of agricultural universities at a workshop held at Pant Krishi Bhavan here to finalise the strategy for staking claim to the prestigious GI tag that helps protect intellectual property rights.

Since the demand for the GI-tagged products would increase exponentially, it would bring profits to the farmers and improve their financial condition, he said. “Getting the GI tag will increase the value of specific products and give recognition to the people associated with them, besides preventing the production of counterfeit commodities,” he said.