Minister for Agriculture V.S.Sunil Kumar has said that the farmers in the Marayur region should assure the purity of jaggery produced there.
Inaugurating the Marayur Jaggery Geographical Indication (GI) tag workshop at Kovilkadavu on Thursday, the Minister said that this was aimed at giving an international standard to jaggery produced in the region.
“If the businessmen pack the Tamil Nadu made low-quality jaggery as Marayur jaggery they will be punishable with two-year imprisonment and a fine,” he said.
The local merchants do not sell fake jaggery with the label of Marayur jaggery. The farmers and sellers should join together to avoid fake jaggery arriving in the market, he said.
The government will also take steps to get GI tag to the traditionally cultivated Kanthallur garlic. The Minister handed over the GI tag certificate to the Anchunadu Karimpulpadaka Vipanana Sangam officials.
Official logo
He also released the official logo of Marayur Jaggery. S.Rajendran, MLA, presided over the function.
C. R. Elsi, Director of Kerala Regional Agricultural Research Centre, Principal Agricultural officer Ancy John, Marayu Panchayat president Arogyadas, Kanthalur panchayath president Daisy Rani Rajendran and Chinnakkanal panchayat president Sreedevi Anpuraj attended the function.
The Minister also visited the sugarcane and fruit farms in Kanthaloor and Marayur and interacted with the farmers there.
Marayu jaggery the traditional and handmade product received the GI tag from central government in March. Produced in Marayur and Kanthallur, the jaggery is made from sugarcane produced there and no chemical is added during the manufacturing process.
