By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 26, 2017: Odisha government has belatedly formed an eight-member technical committee to file application for getting Geographical Indication (GI) tag for ‘Kandhamal Haladi’ (turmeric).

The move follows discussion with Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC) officers, Kandhamal district collector and local turmeric farmers.

An eight-member committee comprises of agriculture scientists, district forest officer, horticulture deputy director, NGO representatives, Kasam’s secretary, CTTC’s Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre (IPFC) head and one advisor of CTTC as members.

The technical panel will submit a report about the process of filing an application for GI status for Kandhamal Haladi. On basis of the report, the government will proceed for applying for the tag in second week of January next year at Chennai office.

Recently, we had discussed with the local turmeric farmers, Kandhamal collector and farmers belonging to ‘Kasam’ – a farmers’ group.

“The programme for collecting data and turmeric samples is underway. The committee will also review the report on the basis of Maharashtra received GI status for its ‘Waigaon Turmeric’,” said CTTC’s IPFC chief Sachikant Kar.

The government has decided to examine the quality of Kandhamal turmeric at National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-approved laboratories. The decision regarding sending the turmeric samples to which other laboratories in the country will be made in next two-three days. The panel will review the report after the laboratory test, he added.