GI certified Bhalia variety of wheat

• The first shipment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat was exported today to Kenya and Sri Lanka from Gujarat.
• India exported substantial quantity of grain to seven new countries - Yemen, Indonesia, Bhutan, Philippines, Iran, Cambodia and Myanmar during 2020-21.
• This initiative is expected to give boost wheat exports from India.

Bhalia wheat:

• It is a type of long grain Wheat cultivated in Bhal region in the north of Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat, India.
• Bhal region of Gujarat includes Ahmadabad, Anand, Kheda, Bhavanagar, Surendranagar, Bharuch districts.
• It has high protein content and is sweet in taste.
• It can grown in the rainfed condition without irrigation and cultivated in around two lakh hectares of agricultural land in Gujarat.

Geographical Indication (GI):

• It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.
• GI is governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
• India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection)Act, 1999 has come into force with effect from 15th September 2003.
• The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.