Vijayapura: Lemon, citric fruit of the District which has already made its mark in the State for its taste, size and quality, is all set to get a new feather onto its cap with lemon expected to get Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
The Karnataka State Lime Development Board has been making efforts to get the lemon of the district GI recognition, which will help in boosting production of this crop.
“We have been working for the last four year to get a GI tag. We have already prepared detailed reports and submitted the documents to various authorities concerned for the purpose. Our proposal has been accepted and we are hopeful of getting the GI tag officially within a couple of months,” said Ashok Allapur, Chairman of the Board.
He said that the Board, with the help of the Horticulture Research Centre of Tidagundi Village, has been working on developing different varieties of lemon.
Some of the popular varieties of lemon are, Kagaji, Saisharbat, Balaji, Pramalini and Pulesharbat varieties. “If our lemon get a GI tag, then our local product will get international recognition. The most beneficial would be the farmers who have been cultivating lemon for generations in Vijayapura,” he said.
Allapur said that the Kagaji variety is one of the best as far as its smell, juice and size is concerned. Though a similar variety of lemon is cultivated in other parts of the State due to conducive climate of Vijayapura District, the variety is grown best here.
The GI helps in overall economic prosperity of the farmers. The marketing and promotion of the products with the GI tag enhances the secondary economic activities in that specific region, which in turn boosts the regional economic development. The GI tag creates a positive image and reputation of the product in the minds of the consumers. The main reason for the GI tag is to seek protection for specific products produced in a particular geographical region, which further encourages and motivates the marketers to expand their business at a global level. It also boosts exports and helps the producers in earning well for themselves.
Allapur informed that lemon is cultivated on over 21,660 hectares of land in the State, of which around 58 per cent i.e 12,220 hectare is present in Vijayapura District alone. Over 60 per cent of the District’s lemon comes from Indi and Sindagi Taluks.
Karnataka stands at fourth position in the country in producing lemon. Andhra Pradesh produces the highest quantity of lemon, followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat.
