Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: With local markets increasingly flooded by imported cashew nuts falsely marketed as Goan produce, the State government is hopeful of securing a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Goa’s native cashew nuts by next month—a move that could help protect the authenticity of the state’s iconic agricultural product.
Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) chairperson Deviya Rane said efforts are in full swing to obtain the GI tag, which would allow the government to clamp down on the misleading sale of non-Goan cashews as locally grown. Rane has been actively following up with the Department of Science and Technology to expedite the process with the GI Registry.
“I am confident that we will receive GI recognition for our nuts by next month,” Rane told reporters. She added that the certification would not only safeguard the identity of Goan cashews but also enable consumers to identify genuine local products through proper GI labelling.
The move comes months after Goan cashew kernels were granted the GI tag in October 2023, marking a significant milestone in protecting the state’s agricultural heritage. Rane stressed that extending the GI tag to the full nut is crucial to preserving the reputation and quality associated with Goa’s cashew industry.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a GI tag is used for products that originate from a specific region and derive their unique characteristics or reputation from that location.
Officials believe the GI recognition will boost consumer confidence, support local growers, and help Goa reclaim its space in the competitive cashew market.
