Udangudi Panangarupatti

10.10.2023

Udangudi Panangarupatti , Daily Current Affairs , RACE IAS : Best IAS Coaching in Lucknow 

Why in the news?

Recently, Udangudi ‘Panangkarupatti’ (palm jaggery/ gur) from Tamil Nadu has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About Udangudi Panangarupatti:

• The palm jaggery preparation procedure in this area is traditional till date without inclusion of any additional modern strategies.

Uniqueness:

•  Triple super phosphate and phosphoric acid are used in many other areas, but no such chemical additives are used in Udangudi Panangkarupatti.
• The karupatti prepared from the palm sap from the region around Udangudi in Tiruchendur taluk in Thoothukudi district has some uniqueness.

•  This is due to the presence of red sand dune soil found in the region.
• This soil holds less groundwater.
• The moisture content in the atmosphere is less because of the dry climatic condition, which leads to high sucrose content, in turn adding taste.
• The region’s dry climate is also suitable for storage of karupatti for a longer duration.
• No chemical additives like Triple super phosphate and phosphoric acid are used in its preparation.
• Udangudi jaggery was even exported to foreign countries, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. Moreover, Madurai and Tirunelveli had more than 500 wholesale dealers for Udangudi jaggery.

What are dunes

• A duneis a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand.
• It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill and occurs in different shapes and sizes.
• They are made of sand-sized particles, and may consist of quartz, calcium carbonate, snow, gypsum, or other materials.
• They are most common in desert environments, where the lack of moisture hinders the growth of vegetation that would otherwise interfere with the development of dunes.

About Red dunes

• They are called theriin Tamil.
• They consist of sediments dating back to the Quaternary Period and are made of marine deposits.
• They have very low water and nutrient retention capacity and are susceptible to aerodynamic lift.
• The iron-rich heavy minerals like ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, hypersthene and rutile present in the soil.
• They had undergone leaching by surface water and were then oxidised because of the favourable semi-arid climatic conditions.

Key facts about Geographical Indication (GI) tag

• A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
• This GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.
• It is issued by the Geographical Indications Registry (Chennai).
• This is typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts and industrial products.
• Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004–2005.

Benefits of GI Tag

• Prevents unauthorized use of a Registered Geographical Indication by others.
• It provides legal protection to Indian Geographical Indications which in turn boost exports.
• It increases the economic prosperity of GI tag goods producers by increasing their demand in national and international markets.

GI tags of Tamilnadu

Source: The Hindu