Chennai, June 18:
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has reinforced its commitment to promoting rural livelihoods by actively facilitating Geographical Indication (GI) registration and commercialization in Tamil Nadu.
During the Financial Year 2025-26, five traditional products of the state were added to the GI registry thereby protecting legal rights and improving marketability of these products. The products include Ambasamudram Choppu Samaan (Wooden Toys), Woraiyur Cotton Saree, and Namakkal Maakkal Pattirangal under Handicrafts; Thooyamalli Rice under Agriculture; and Kavindhapadi Nattu Sakkarai under Food Stuff.
NABARD has supported the establishment of a Geographical Indication Facilitation Centre (GIFC) at Madurai Agribusiness Incubation Forum (MABIF) to support GI identification, registration, awareness creation and market linkage, a PIB release said.
The GIFC, located at the TNAU campus, Madurai serves as a dedicated platform to support farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), startups, and producer groups in leveraging GI certification for value addition and income enhancement.
Complementing GI registration efforts, NABARD has funded infrastructure like Product Promotional Centres (PPCs) to enable direct market access and reduce intermediaries.
Tamil Nadu remains a leading state in GI-certified products, featuring existing icons like Madurai Malli, Madurai Marikolunthu, Panruti Jackfruit, and Puliyankudi Acid Lime.
Through MABIF, NABARD is currently facilitating a pipeline of upcoming GI products, including Uthukuli butter, Kolli Hills pepper, Ramanathapuram Poongar rice, Kanchipuram idli, Karungani cotton, Kovilpatti seeval, Authoor Poovan banana, Thoothukudi salt, Villiseri lemon, and Vadakkadu jackfruit.
These interventions enhance farmer incomes by enabling premium pricing, preventing imitation, and strengthening market trust, serving as a replicable model for rural development and cultural preservation.model for rural development and cultural preservation.