PANAJI
Suspecting a move by Maharashtra to create a 'Urrack Hub' in its Konkan region, the Goa government has filed for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for heady but extremely popular distillate of the cashew apple juice.
Goa has already earned a GI certification for the stronger Cashew Feni and also for the Cashew Nuts.
The Department of Science and Technology has forwarded the proposal to the Central GI Registry, its nodal officer Deepak Parab said, adding that the application has been made on behalf of an association of cashew farmers.
The name of the cashew growers association has been mentioned as the applicant while sending the proposal for the GI tag for Urrack, he added.
According to Parab, Maharashtra has formed a special task force for getting GI tags for some varieties of mangoes.
He said, it is also advisable that Goa too forms such a task force for cashew so that all agencies working on cashew, including the Agriculture department, ICAR, tourism department and the IT department work in tandem to promote cashew production and its economy.
"The Maharashtra government is thinking of setting up a 'urrack hub' in the Konkan belt. That is why we have sent this proposal for GI for Urrack," Parab said.
Urrack and cocktail variants of it are popular alcoholic beverages in Goa in the summer months. In recent years, it has become the biggest draw at the cashew festival organized by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation.
Parab also said, that another proposal for GI tagging the cashew apple (fruit) itself sent by the State is pending approval. It may come through in about six months, he added.
