GI Tag Dispute: Rajasthan Challenges GI Status for Unjha Jeera and Saunf

Context

Farmers and traders from Rajasthan have opposed the Geographical Indication (GI) tags granted to “Unjha Jeera” (cumin) and “Unjha Fennel” (saunf) in favour of the Unjha Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Mehsana district, Gujarat. They argue that Rajasthan is the principal production region, while Unjha functions primarily as a trading centre rather than a cultivation area.

Key Highlights

• Farmers contend that although cumin and fennel are largely cultivated in Rajasthan, they are marketed through Unjha, one of Asia’s largest spice trading centres, resulting in the GI being associated with the market instead of the producing region.
• The GI applications were submitted before the Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, and the registrations cover both the agricultural produce and its distinctive characteristics.
• Rajasthan contributes the largest share of India’s cumin production, particularly from Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Nagaur and Jalore districts, with farmers from Barmer leading the opposition.
• The issue has gained political attention, with demands for Rajasthan’s producer organisations to seek separate GI recognition for cumin and fennel cultivated in the State.

Key Concepts

Geographical Indication (GI)

• A Geographical Indication is an intellectual property right granted to products whose quality, reputation or other characteristics are intrinsically linked to a specific geographical origin.
• In India, GIs are protected under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into force in 2003.

GI Registration Process

• GI registrations are handled by the Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, functioning under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce.
• A GI registration remains valid for 10 years and can be renewed periodically.
• Darjeeling Tea was India’s first registered GI.

Registered Proprietor and Authorised User

• The registered proprietor is generally an association of producers, organisation or statutory body representing the interests of producers.
• Individual producers from the notified geographical area can obtain recognition as authorised users, enabling them to legally use the GI.

TRIPS Agreement

• Articles 22–24 of the WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) require member countries to provide legal protection for Geographical Indications, with enhanced protection for wines and spirits.

Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)

• An APMC is a statutory body established by State Governments to regulate agricultural markets and mandis.
• Unjha APMC is among the largest spice trading markets in Asia.

Cumin (Jeera) and Fennel (Saunf)

• Both are rabi seed-spice crops that thrive under cool, dry climatic conditions and light sandy-loam soils.
• Rajasthan and Gujarat together account for almost the entire production of these crops in India.

Way Forward

• Explore the possibility of a shared or multi-State GI, similar to products whose production spans multiple States.
• Strengthen the role of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and producer collectives in GI ownership so that the economic benefits reach cultivators directly.
• Improve post-registration mechanisms such as quality certification, traceability systems and enforcement, ensuring effective utilisation of GI protection.
• Enhance awareness among farmers regarding the commercial value of GIs and encourage greater participation in the registration and branding process.