Home ›› 19 Oct 2021 ›› Front
Bangladesh’s Black Tiger Shrimp and Rajshahi’s Fazli mango – two of the most iconic food items produced locally – are getting the prestigious geographical indication certificate from the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks.
The DPDT published two journals on 6 October as part of securing this certification. If no local or foreign entities raise objections over this move in the next two months – starting from the journals’ publication – both food items will be GI certified and internationally recognised.
GI certification is provided under the guidelines of the World Intellectual Property Organisation. The department has so far certified nine products, and 26 others – excluding Bangladesh’s Black Tiger Shrimp and Rajshahi’s Fazli mango – are awaiting the process.
On the matter, DPDT’s Registrar Md Abdus Sattar said, “We have received many proposals from district administrations, various organisations and agencies for securing the copyright of traditional products found throughout Bangladesh.
“We are currently scrutinising the proposals. The DPDT has published journals Bangladesh’s Black Tiger Shrimp and Rajshahi’s Fazli mango this month, and journals for other eligible products will be published after the evaluation process.”
When asked why the certified products are unable to take advantage of the GI tag in the international market, he said, “The producers of those certified products can provide an explanation for this issue.”
Rajshahi’s Fazli Mango
Already an iconic fruit across Bangladesh, the sweet aroma Rajshahi’s Fazli mango has garnered fame across the globe.
Fazli is cultivated in nine upazilas throughout the country, but Bagha and Charghat upazilas are responsible for most of the harvest.
Fazli was renowned in the markets of neighbouring India as “Bagha Fazli” as far back as 200 years ago. Belonging to a variety called “Nobi Mousumi,” Fazli can only be grown in the Rajshahi region because of its specific weather and soil requirements.
Fazli has its own identity among other popular mango varieties due to its particularly distinctive flavour and aroma. Binodpur Fruit Research centre took the initiative to protect the copyright for this culturally significant fruit from Rajshahi.
After evaluating the proposal, the DPDT has published a journal on Fazli mango to secure its tenth GI certification.
Black Tiger shrimp
Bangladesh is one of the top ten producers of Black Tiger shrimp, and the country began farming this coveted food item back in 1950. Farming for this shrimp expanded to 52,000 hectares in 1980, and annual production reached 2,220 tonnes during that period.
Currently, Bangladesh is farming this shrimp commercially in more than two lakh hectares of land area, located mostly in coastal regions. The country produced 68,306 tonnes of Black Tiger shrimp in FY2016-17.
The shrimp is contributing significantly in fulfilling the local demand and earning foreign currency through exports. Black Tiger shrimps take up nearly 60-70 per cent of the total fish and fish related product exports.
Frozen shrimps occupy 73 per cent of Bangladesh’s fish exports, and 77 per cent of those are Black Tiger shrimps. The Department of Fisheries has applied for the product’s certification, and the DPDT has taken the necessary steps to secure its eleventh GI tag.
What is GI certification?
A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin, such as a town, region, or country.
The use of a GI tag – as an indication of the product’s source – acts as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a good reputation due to its geographical origin.
Products bearing a GI tag have the potential to fetch high prices in the global market, and also contribute towards boosting employment in their respective area of origin.
Though Bangladesh has nine GI certified products, the country is yet to achieve a large market for these products, industry insiders told The Business Post. The government should focus on building brand value for these products too, they added.
GI certified products can also help expand the SME sector in Bangladesh.
9 products GI certified so far
The DPDT certified its first GI product Jamdani Saree in 2016, and second product Bangladesh Hilsa in 2017. Then in 2018, Chapainawabganj’s Khirsapati Mango received this certification.
In March this year, six more products received GI certifications – Dhakai Muslin, Rajshahi Silk, Rangpur’s Shotoronji, Bijoypur’s Sadamati, Dinajpur’s Kataribhog, and Bangladesh’s Kalijira paddy.
Producers of these products need certificates of recognition as soon as possible, but only the producers of Jamdani received their certificate back in 2017, the rest remain pending.
Authorities concerned say the process for handing out certifications is underway, and once availed, these producers will be able to sell their products with the GI tag. It should be mentioned that the GI tag can be either country or region based.
Process to certify 28 products underway
Thirty-seven products had initially applied for the GI certification, and nine received it so far. The DPDT has published journals for Black Tiger shrimp and Rajshahi’s Fazli mango.
At the moment, the process is on to certify 26 other products, including Bogura’s Yogurt, Sylhet’s Agor tree, Jamalpur’s Tulsimala paddy, and Rangpur’s Haribhanga mango.
Authorities concerned say if two products are chosen from each district of Bangladesh, more than 120 products could get GI certifications in the coming days. To achieve the GI tag, the producers or government department concerned should apply to the DPDT.
Products with GI tags are selling for 25-30 per cent more prices compared to their regular counterparts, so Bangladesh can take advantage of this market demand.
A number of exporters, on condition of anonymity, told The Business Post that though a number of products such as the Jamdani Saree, Rangpur’s Shotoronji and Khirsapati mangoes have received GI certification, the producers are yet to receive their certificate of recognition.
For this reason, they are unable to use the GI tag on their products and sell for more money despite being certified. Europe pays the most for GI certified products. If the government takes the initiative in this regard, exporters will be able to make a hefty profit through GI products, they added.
Need to boost initiatives
The SME Foundation and Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) have been working to improve the businesses of small entrepreneurs and people from all corners of the society.
District administrations and other relevant organisations are also involved in this effort. The SME Foundation and BSCIC can play a key role in securing the copyrights of traditional products being produced in different clusters across the country, industry insiders observed.
