PUNE: The application for Geographical Indication (GI) for Alibaug white onion known for its medicinal value and distinguished sweet taste was submitted to the GI Registry in Chennai recently.
The application was submitted by Professor Ganesh Hingmire, Founder and Chairman of Great Mission Group Consultancy (GMCC) on behalf of the farmers association, Alibaug Pandhara Kanda Shetkari Utpadak Gat, a group of more than 500 Alibag white onion farmers.
Hingmire said, “We have been working on this for the last eight months as we need to work on a lot of information related to this variety of onion. We have also discussed with the representatives from Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) of Raigad district and Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth in Dapoli. We also connected with more than 500 white onion growers from Alibaug. After working on the details, we submitted the application on January 16 and the application number was also generated.”
White onion is a traditional variety of onion grown in Alibaug tehsil of Raigad district.
This onion has a distinguishing sweet taste and is cultivated in Pen and Khandale areas near Alibaug.
Hingmire said, “It is a variety of onion that is grown with a traditional seed and has a special taste and colour due to the soil texture of that particular area. Known as white gold, this variety on onion is rich in medicinal value and a GI tag will help farmers get premium prices for their produce.”
