‘Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal’ Among 7 Odisha Products To Reach Final Leg In Race For GI Tag

Bhubaneswar: Prospects appear to have brightened for the famous ‘Kanteimundi’ Brinjal of Odisha’s Nayagarh to bag the coveted geographical indication (GI) tag from the Centre.

Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal has reached the final stage in the race to get the GI tag with the Geographical Indications Registry publishing an advertisement on its official website. It has been published in the GI Journal No. 178 so that objection, if any, can be raised to it being granted the tag, sources said. This is considered the last stage before a product is granted GI status.

Apart from this brinjal, advertisements for six other products from Odisha – ‘Gajapati Date Palm Jaggery’, ‘Dhenkanal Magji’, ‘Koraput Black Rice’, ‘Mayurbhanj Kai Chutney’, ‘Painting of Lanjia Saura (IDITAL)’ and ‘Dongria Kondh Shawl’ have also been issued by the GI Journal. This is part of the ‘examination’ process before according approval for GI tag.

According to sources, the Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) had applied for GI tag for Kanteimundi Brinjal in 2021 on behalf of Neelamadhab Krushi Sangathan at Banapur under Khandapada Block in Nayagarh district.

Originated from Badabanapur and Ratnapur area of Khandapada block and Dhanchangda, Laxmiprasad, Kumundi and Fategarh area of Bhapur block, the vegetable is cultivated entire in the district. It is largely grown in Kantilo area in Nayagarh.

Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal is a tasteful vegetable with lots of prickly thorns on it as well as the whole plant. It is green in colour and round in shape containing more seeds as compared to other genotypes.

The vegetable crop is cultivated in the sandy soil and having unique taste, flavor. It is attributed to the skill of the local
growers who have been cultivating this crop for more than 100 years. The crop is confined to Nayagarh district.

The ‘Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal’ is famous for its unique taste and quick cooking quality than other varieties of the brinjal species. The plant is resistant to major insects, pests and diseases. This crop is grown both in the Kharif and Rabi seasons.

Dhenkanal Magji and Similipal Kai chutney of Odisha) was also filed and facilitated by OUAT.