THE GDOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS OF GOODS

(REGiSTRATION AND PROTECTIONI ACT, 1999

GI Application Number 231 of 2O11 for registration of Erode T\rrmerlc

in
Class 30 in the name of

Proof of Origin
The cultivation of "Erode T\rrmeric" can be traced back
to the Vedic period and
the sangam era of ancient Tam s. T\rrmeric was also traded
during tie rerg., of
the chera, chola & pandya Kings. Turmeric is a native of South
East Asia,
having centre of origin in India. over a period of time
the age and climatic
conditions prevailing in Erode and the neighbouring regions
being vulnerable
for turmeric cultivations led to production of very good quality
turmeric 1n this
area' In view of which Erode became a commercial centre
for turmeric trade.
It is said that the Arab traders in the 13th century had carried with them
"T\:rmeric" from India as part of their trade. The
Gazetteer of south India
(1901- 1906) pertaining to Coimbatore District
mentions ,.Erode T\rrmeric,, as
one of the products of export to the neighbouring
districts. Further posseits
Textile Journal fFebruary 1917] mentions Erode
as one of the District in the
Madras Presidency where Tlrrmeric is chiefly cultivated.

Presently "Erode Turmeric" is curtivated in the entire

District of Erode,
and rondqmuthur Taluks of coimbatore District and Kangayam Annur
Tiruppur District. The ratitude and longitude details are Taluk of
as detailed in the GI
Application.

Interest of Producers
The Applicant is a societ5r incorporated under the societies
Registrations Act,
1860. It represents the interest of the Agriculturists who
cultivate Erode
- T\rrmeric and the Traders who deal in the Trade and Export of Erode T\:rmeric
in the following ways:
-
l ro cure all the defects in terms of business and promotion of
business
relating to export of Erode T\rrmeric, agent commissioning,
and business
relating thereto, resolve issues relating to such business
and to advise on
Turmeric production and'trade.

2. Procure newspapers and magazine and to establish libraries for the

agriculturists and traders rerated to the Turmeric production
and trade.
3. To promote and develop the knowredge and
skill relating of the members
of the Applisociety, to help the needy on such through news papers
magazines and campaigns on this.

To help the needy among the general public and

do welfare to the peoples
thereto to the extend society can involve in such welfare
related
activities.
5. Based upon the activities of the society, the secretary of the society is
the appropriate person/authority and has right and power to order and
execute any work or acts related to the society.

Involvement of Human Element:

cuitivation and Marketing of Erode T\rrmeric invorves a great amount of
human labour, skill, effort and experience.

Human Labour:
Right from ploughing to sowing of crops, manuring, irrigation, harvesting,
and
processing, all these activities invorve a rot of human
labour. The GI
Appiication on the method of production may be relied upon in this
regard. The
content therein are not repeated herein so as to maintain brevit5r
anJ to avoid
repetition.

Human Skill
Human skill is involved in ably proughing the rand 3-4 times so as
to bring the
land to a line tilth. Ridges and Farrow system is generaily adopted for planting.
Proper ploughing is essential, for only then the rand wourd be properly
prepared, enabling proper germination, formation of tumours/
rhizomes during
the growth period and in effective harvesting without damaging the
rhizomes.
Similarly experience is required in apprying manure, fertilizers,
insecticide and
pesticide at the appropriate time during the cultivating period.
This has a
direct impact on the growth and formation of rhizomes. Irrigation
at proper
intervals depending on the moisture content of the so and rain
also iargely
influence the growth and formation of rhizomes. Too littre water
adversery
effects growth of the turmeric and too much of water reads
to water logging and
creates rhizome rot. Harvesting requires certain amount
of skilr and experience
rn manually digging and excavating the rhizome without
.! damaging th"
The processing of harvested r\rrmeric requires a very high degree
""_..
of skil and
experience especially during boiling, polishing and colouring.
Boiling to the
right degree largely influences the colour and aroma of the marketed
over boiling spoils the colour of the final product and under bo f,roduct.
ing renders it
brittle, also enhancing susceptibility to pest attack. So sk l and experience
is
requires to boil the T\rrmeric to the correct desree.

Dry T\rrmeric which is rough in appearance has a dulr coror

surface. This fetches only a low price in the market.
in its outer
so varue is added by
improving its appearance. This is done by smoothing and porishing
the outer
surface by manual and mechanical rubbing. The entire pro".." re{uires high
skill and experience so as to obtain the riehf finish.
Further to improve the surface colour, turmeric powder is added to the
polishing drum during the last r0 min of polishing. The quality of turmeric
powder added depends on the quantity of rhizomes to be polished. so choosing
the right amount of turmeric powder based on the quality of polishing and the
duration of polishing requires high degree of skill and experience.

Uniqueness:
Uniqueness of Erode Turmeric is based on reputation, quality & other
characteristics.

a. Reputatlon:
Reputation is based on production and marketing of "Erode Turmeric" within
India and in other countries. The production of "Erode T\rrmeric" from
the year
1999- 2O7O is as detailed in the GI Application.

Erode is one of the largest markets for turmeric in India. Erode resurated
market, Erode Agricultural products Marketing and co-operative socie-ty
and
Gobi Agricultural Products Marketing and co-operative Society and the
open
markets are the major daily markets in and around Erode involved in
turmeric
trade' More than 200 rtrrmeric Mandis are involved in the trade of "Erode
T\rrmeric". The production of Erode T\:rmeric during the year 2007-
2oog is
46,935 tonnes.
The area under turmeric cultivation during the year 2oog 2o1o rose
- to 9500
hectares of land as against 500 to 600 hectares during the previous year.
This
is because of the high price that Erode Turmeric fetches in the market. The
high price is due to the great demand for the product in the national and
international market.
The price per quintal of T\rrmeric was around 16,000/- during the previous
year.

b. Oualitv

!" Quality of Erode T\rrmeric is based on the fo owing parameters:

S.No Partlculars Quality Parameter

1. Species Carcuma Longa Linn
z- Family Zingiberaceae

Curcumin content 59Vo - 63.2Vo

Demetho>ry curcumin (DMC) I8.8o/o to 2l.8Vo

Bis-demethorry curcumin 18 to 19.3%

(BDMC)

4. Curing Percent 19-2OVo

q
Colour Brilliant Orange
c. Other Characteristics:

Uniqueness based on the other characteristics is due to the followine

climatic factors:

S.No Particulars Parameters

1 Soil Mainly red sandy soil

and gravel, moderately
red loam and
occasionally black
loam tracts.
Soil PH .r.c - /.J
Temperature 20 degree to 30 degree
centigrade

3 Rainfall (annually) 800 to 1500mm

4 Humidity Dry Tropical weather
)

Insoection and qualitv control:

The Applicant is currently in the process of setting up a full fledged inspectron
mechanism and hence under takes to do so at the earliest.

Dated at Chennai this the 24t\ dlay of July,2Ol3.

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SIGIATURE OF THE APPLICANT/AGENT