NABARD facilitates GI registration for 28 new products, total reaches 176
Mumbai, July 10 (TNT): The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has facilitated the Geographical Indication (GI) registration of 28 new products from across the country, taking the total number of GI registrations supported by the institution to 176.
The newly registered products include Nalanda Bawanbuti Saree and Fabrics and Gaya Pattharkatti Stone Craft from Bihar, Kuchai Silk Saree and Fabrics from Jharkhand, Ba Shilp (Bamboo Craft) and Bihu Pepa from Assam, Himachal Wood Carving Craft, and Khajuraho Metal Craft from Madhya Pradesh, among several other traditional products, the bank said in a release here on Friday.
NABARD Chairman Dr. Shaji Krishnan V. said GI registration plays a vital role in protecting traditional knowledge, promoting local entrepreneurship and creating value for rural producers.
He said NABARD would continue to strengthen GI-based value chains through producer collectivisation, skill development, enterprise promotion, branding, market linkages and export facilitation to ensure India’s traditional heritage generates sustainable economic opportunities.
According to NABARD, its GI-led initiatives have connected more than 13,000 artisans and producers to higher-value domestic markets, while GI value chains and related enterprises have generated over 50,000 direct jobs.
The institution said 14 Rural Enterprise Producer Organisations (REPOs) are currently engaged in the production and promotion of GI products across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Gujarat.
To strengthen the GI ecosystem, NABARD has also supported the establishment of GI Facilitation Centres at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, Bihar Agricultural University, and the Madurai Agri Business Incubation Forum (MABIF), Tamil Nadu, providing end-to-end support for GI registration and post-registration activities.
In addition, NABARD has supported the setting up of a GI Store at Aihole in Karnataka to provide a dedicated platform for showcasing and marketing GI-certified products.
The institution said its investments in branding, quality enhancement, digital commerce, market linkages and institutional strengthening are aimed at improving market access, enabling traditional products to command premium prices and creating sustainable livelihoods while preserving India’s cultural heritage.
TNT KM
