By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 1, 2019: There is good news for people of Odisha. The ‘Kandhamal Haldi’, a unique turmeric indigenous to southern Odisha, on Monday finally got the Geographical indication (GI) tag from the union government controlled Intellectual Property India on the foundation day of the state.

On April 1, 1936, Odisha was carved out as a separate state in the then British India on a linguistic identity. Kandhamal is in the state’s southern hinterland and has long been famed for its turmeric.

Last year, Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing (KASAM) had moved an application for GI tag for the locally ‘Khandamal Haldi’, under the guidance of the Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC) under the micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME).

KASAM is a registered society involved in processing, value addition and marketing of spices and other products.

‘Kandhamal Haldi’ has been placed under Class-30 type. The GI tag was primarily developed with the purpose of recognising the unique identity connecting different products and places. For a product to get GI tag, it has to have a unique quality, reputation or characteristic which is attributable to its geographic origin.

Kandhamal Haldi gives strong aroma and has a high medicinal value. It has a special place in an array of cuisines.