Khurma, Tilkut and Balushahi of Bihar will get GI Tag | 24 Apr 2023

Why in News?

According to the information received from the media on 23 April 2023, the application for giving GI tag to Bihar's famous sweets Khurma, Tilkut and Balushahi has been accepted after preliminary examination. The competent authority will now take further action in this direction.

Key Points

• According to the information, the demand for GI tag has been approved for Bhojpur's Udwantnagar's Khurma, Gaya's Tilkut, Sitamarhi's Balushahi, Hajipur's famous Chiniya Banana, Nalanda's famous Bawan Booti art and Gaya's stone-cut art.
• The GI tag is given to link the origin of a product primarily to its region of origin.
• Sunil Kumar, Chief General Manager, NABARD said that Bhojpur's 'Khurma' and Gaya's ‘Tilkut’ made from jaggery, and sesame are widely liked not only in the country but also abroad. At the same time, the sweet ‘Balushahi’ of Runnisaidpur of Sitamarhi is also in great demand across the country.
• Sunil Kumar said that the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development NABARD has helped the producer unions in filing applications for GI tags for these famous dishes and products of Bihar. Experts have also been included in this.
• Apart from the process of GI registration, NABARD is also playing a key role in branding, promoting and providing market linkages to these products in the market.
• NABARD has expressed hope that getting a GI tag on these dishes and products will help farmers, producers and artists associated with them to earn more.
• It may be noted that recently GI tag was given to the state's famous ‘Mircha Rice’, which is known for its aroma and taste. Zardalu Mango and Katrani Paddy of Bhagalpur, Magahi Paan of Nawada and Shahi Litchi of Muzaffarpur have already got GI tags.