News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 2nd November 2024
Following turmeric’s recent GI certification, Meghalaya officials have issued a strong caution against the illicit marketing of the spice as “Lakadong” from locations outside of the specified geographical regions.
In March 2024, the state’s highly valued Lakadong turmeric was designated as a Geographical Indication (GI), limiting its genuine production to the districts of East and West Jaintia Hills. The Lakadong Turmeric Cooperative Union Limited in Jowai was given the certification, which has the number 741.
It is unlawful to grow Lakadong turmeric outside of the approved geographic area for the purpose of marketing and selling it as “Lakadong Turmeric,” according to Vijay Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary of the Meghalaya Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department.
As demand for Lakadong turmeric increases in both domestic and foreign markets, reports of fake products have emerged. Cases of turmeric cultivated outside of Meghalaya being mistakenly marketed as the premium Lakadong variety have been reported by the agriculture department.
According to Kumar, these techniques cause consumer confusion and damage Lakadong Turmeric’s reputation, quality, and distinctive qualities, which costs our farmers money. Only authorized users and registered proprietors, as specified by the Geographical Indications of Goods Act of 1999, are granted exclusive usage rights by the GI certification. Sections 38, 39, and 40 of the act stipulate that violators may be prosecuted.
The protection of the traditional growing region is to ensure the lives of local farmers who conserve the unique attributes of turmeric while also preserving authentic production processes.
