SALEM SAGO (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture)

Context: Recently, the Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers Service Industrial Cooperative Society Ltd. (popularly called SAGOSERVE) received a Geographical Indication Tag, or GI Tag, for Salem sago (Tamil Nadu).

Salem Sago (Sabudana)

• Sago, a product of raw tapioca, originates from the crushed tapioca roots.
• It takes the form of small, firm globules or pearls, displaying a pure pearl-white color.
• The sago production process utilizes wet starch powder obtained from tapioca roots, while the dry powder finds applications in various industries.

What is Tapioca?

• It is a prominent horticultural crop covering approximately 300,000 hectares in Tamil Nadu, yielding an impressive 6 million metric tonnes.
• Climate and Soil: Tapioca thrives in well-drained soil, particularly red lateritic loamy soil.
• It flourishes in tropical, warm, and humid climates.
• Rainfall: Exceeding 100 cm annually, is essential for its growth.
• Tapioca cultivation can extend up to elevations of 1000 meters.

What is GI Tag?

• It is a symbol used on items that come from a particular geographical area and have qualities or a reputation linked to that place of origin.
• Nodal Ministry: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Tenure: 10 Years
• Regulated By: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
• The World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) also regulates Geographical Indications.
• India’s First GI Product: Darjeeling Tea (2004-05)