THE CONTEXT: Over 250 kilograms of Raja Mircha, which is also known as Naga King Chilli, was exported to London from Nagaland on July 28.
Analysis:
- It is the first such export from Nagaland and comes amid the Covid-19 pandemic and a drought-like situation in the state.
- Raja Mircha got Geographical Indication certification in 2008.
- It constantly figures in the top five on the list of the world’s hottest chilies based on Scoville Heat Units and is known for its distinct aroma and flavour.
- The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and Nagaland State Agricultural Marketing Board coordinated the export sourced from Peren district.
- The Scoville scale is a measurement of the heat of chili peppers and other spicy foods.
- The concentration of capsaicin, the chemical responsible for adding spicy heat to foods, is measured and recorded in Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
- The Scoville heat scale was created by Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacist
ABOUT GI INDICATOR
- It is an insignia on products having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regard to its special quality or reputed attributes.
- It is a mark of authenticity and ensures that registered authorized users or at least those residing inside the geographic territory are allowed to use the popular product names.
- GI tag in India is governed by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.It is issued by the Geographical Indications Registry (Chennai).
- It provides legal protection to Indian Geographical Indications thus preventing unauthorized use of the registered GIs by others.
- It promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.
- The GI protection in India leads to recognition of the product in other countries thus boosting exports.
