Geographical Indications of Vegetable Crops in India- Role in Farmer’s Empowerment and Agro-biodiversity Management

In this paper an attempt has been made to study role of Geographical Indications (GIs) in farmers’ empowerment and biodiversity management focusing on vegetable crops GIs. Data was collected from GI registry website. Till 2023-24, 200 agricultural GIs were registered constituting 31 percent of total GIs registered in India. Total number of registered GIs in vegetables was 32 constituting 16 percent of agricultural GIs. In case of 19 vegetable GIs, farmers’ organizations were the exclusive registered owners of GIs indicating farmers’ empowerment. But only with respect to 13 vegetable GIs, authorised users were registered till 2023-24, indicating gap and lag in effective use of GIs in farmers’ empowerment. Registered vegetables GIs were spread across 10 crops. Maximum number of GIs were registered in chilli crop (14) and it was followed by brinjal (6). 32 Vegetable GIs registered in India were spread across 16 states. Maharashtra state had highest number of vegetable GIs i.e., 5 followed by Goa (4) and Kerala (4). Registered GIs in chilli crop was spread across 13 states. 6 GIs in brinjal were spread across 6 states. Similarly, 3 GIs in garlic and onion were spread across 3 states.  This pattern indicates potential role of GIs in agro-biodiversity conservation.