By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: Aimed at increasing Geographical Indication (GI) registration of exclusive agriculture products, a National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) sponsored Regional GI Facilitation Centre would be established at Bihar Agriculture University (BAU), Sabour.
Decks for establishment of regional centre for facilitating GI registration was cleared with formal handing of NABARD sanction letter today to D R Singh, Vice Chancellor (VC) BAU by Vimal Kumar Kumar, Chief General Manager (CGM), NABARD, Patna.
The sanction letter was handed over to VC by CGM in a programme organized by directorate of research, BAU, to mark the occasion. Under Gramya Vikas Nidhi NABARD has agreed to provide grant for establishment of regional GI facilitation centre following request made for the same by university in May last year.
BAU it may be mentioned had played pivotal role in past for securing GI tag for some exclusive agriculture products of state including Jardalu variety of mango and Katarni rice both exclusive agriculture product of this region.
The university trying to secure GI tag for number of other agricultural and food products of state as per information has already made substantial headway towards ensuring GI registration of Sonachur rice, Gulshan a tomato variety and Litti Chhokha, an exclusive food item of Bihar.
With BAU has set priority on inclusion of more exclusive agriculture products of state in list of products having GI tag, establishment of regional GI facilitation centre, it largely felt would help university in attaining the objective.
VC, BAU in his address on the occasion said university is fast heading towards achieving GI registration goal of maximum exclusive agricultural products of state. Underlining importance of GI registration he said increased GI registration of products would prove beneficial in trade process apart from benefitting farmers.
For ensuring farmers can reap maximum benefit from agricultural innovations, facilitating GI registration of their innovations has been prioritized by university, he added.
VC said that GI registration of exclusive farm products with NABARD support is part of strategic initiative of university towards attaining agricultural excellence and increasing livelihood opportunities for farmers. The collaboration between NABARD and BAU would significantly contribute in GI registration of exclusive agricultural products of state, he added.
Speaking on the occasion CGM, NABARD said BAU is at par with any institution of international standard. Appreciating academic and research facilities available in university he assured NABARD support to university in achieving goal of agricultural excellence.
A K Singh, director research, BAU, spoke about objectives and significance of planned regional GI registration centre in his address. The NABARD officials present on the occasion included Amil Kumar Goutahm, Assistant General Manager (AGM), Patna and Chandan Kumar, District Development Manager (DDM), Bhagalpur.
- Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516
