Raw Kharek fruit of Gujarat gets Geographical Indication tag.
National
Kachchhi Kharek, the indigenous variety of dates of Kutch, has become the second fruit of Gujarat to get a geographical indication (GI) tag from the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDT) of India. Jubilant farmers of the semi-arid district have hailed the decision.The office of the CGPDT awarded a certificate of GI to Kuchchhi Kharek or Kutchi dates earlier this month on January 2 after granting an application filed by the Unidates Farmer Producer Company Limited (UFPCL), a farmer producer organisation of Kutch.
Kachhi Kharek” is the product of ripe (in fresh state) harvested dates, when the fruit is in its original color.
Fruits are rich in microelements (especially carbohydrates, fats, calcium, phosphorus and iron) and high in calories.
According to the Gujarat government, dates are cultivated in 19,251 hectares of area in Kutch, which is more than the total area of Gujarat, accounting for 94 percent of the 20,446 hectares of date cultivable area.
Chief Minister – Bhupendrabhai Patel
Governor – Achayasivevrat, राजधानी – गांधीनगर
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