Hyderabad:A team of scientists conducted a field study to assign the geographical indication (GI) of Armoor turmeric, which is locally grown in Armoor area of Nizamabad district, carrying many unique features.
With the courtesy of Nabard, the team led by Dr Pidigam Saidaiah, principal investigator of the Armoor turmeric project, from Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University along with scientists B. Mahender, P. Srinivas from Kammarapalli Turmeric Research Station and Nizamabad Nabard DDM Praveen Kumar, met to study the GI of Armoor turmeric.
The information required for applying for GI Armur, climatic conditions, soil characteristics, unique characteristics of this variety, history of cultivation of Armur turmeric, documentary evidence, among others were discussed in detail. The turmeric varieties cultivated in the turmeric growing areas of Armoor were visited and the uniqueness of the varieties being cultivated was observed.
"If turmeric gets the GI tag, exports will increase, marketing opportunities for this variety across the country will increase and premium and higher prices will also be available," said Dr Pidigam Saidaiah, the principal investigator of the project.
An application will have to be made to the Intellectual Property Rights Centre, headquartered in Chennai, for geographical indication. The team said that the application will be submitted in three to four months. Soon, DNA profiling of this variety, description of its characteristics, and their samples will be examined and studied in the laboratory, Pidigam Saidaiah said.
