Agriculture #Bihar

Bihar is a land of numerous locale-specific, typical products of salient craftsmanship-extraordinaire. To avoid disputes (ranging from petty neighbours to those between states) and avert conflation and ambiguity, GI tags are awarded to characterise specific products, ranging from the edible to the sartorial. GI tags award residents the near-exclusive right to use the popular (common) product name and hence foster local artisanship, support endemic and traditional artificers and handicraftsmen, and prevent appropriation by foreign and/or nationwide mass￾manufactures. These GI-tags are a testament to the prowess and persevering tour-de-force of Bihari agriculturists over successive generations. They’ve not only made Bihar a prosperous land of flourishing crops – the food basket of India but also given it distinctive products known for their supreme quality. Bihar’s famous makhana, the aquatic Gorgon-nut or foxnut, which is prepared as a nutritious snack, is also being vouched and vetted by authorities towards consideration for award of a GI-tag. A Geographical Indicator (GI) Tag is a formal mark awarded to a specific product to distinguish and authenticate it, and prevent forgery, duplication and mock sub-standard emulation. In simple words, these tags define, specify and guarantee the authenticity of a hallmark product by defining and delimiting its geographical scope and creation process. Let us have a look at the items and crafts that have earned a GI-tag and appropriated enough repute to become salient to their respective areas and localities in Bihar. GI-tags are awarded in various categories, namely – Agricultural, Clothing, Foodstuff, Footwear, Forest Produce, Handicrafts, Manufactured, Medicine, Natural Goods, Spice, and Textile. In this article, we cover the agricultural products, which have earned the coveted distinction under their exquisite breeding, exceptional refinement, finesse or deliciousness