Sat Jan 25 16:15:15 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Secures Second Place in India for Geographical Indication Tags
**Chennai, January 25, 2025** – Tamil Nadu has solidified its position as the second-highest state in India for securing Geographical Indication (GI) tags, boasting 59 tags as of December 31, 2024. This achievement trails only Uttar Pradesh, which holds 74 tags. The state’s proactive approach, spearheaded by the government and various associations, focuses on protecting and promoting its diverse cultural heritage through GI recognition of agricultural products, textiles, handicrafts, and food items.
The 2024-2025 agriculture budget highlights the state’s commitment, allocating resources to secure GI tags for an additional 10 agricultural products, building on the 25 applications filed in the preceding three years. The Madurai Agribusiness Incubation Forum (MABIF), supported by NABARD, plays a vital role in educating producers about the benefits of GI tags and assisting with the registration process.
Several products recently received GI recognition, including: Ooty varkey (a traditional biscuit), Madurai malli (jasmine), Dindigul locks, Kovilpatti kadalai mittai (peanut candy), Palani panchamirtham (a sweet offering), Thanjavur dolls, Nachiarkoil kuthuvilakku (lamps), Salem sago, Sholavandan betel leaves, Pattamadai mats, Manamadurai pottery, and Kodaikanal hill garlic. The GI tags are expected to boost demand and export opportunities for these unique products, preserving traditional crafts and enhancing the state’s economic standing. The Matti banana from Kanyakumari district also recently secured a GI tag. Each product’s unique characteristics and history were highlighted in the announcement.
First Piper 