Mayurbhanj’s Red Ant Chutney Receives GI Tag

January 5, 2024

GS Paper III Economic Development

Context: Recently, the Similipal Kai Chutney made with kai pimpudi (red weaver ants) by the tribal people of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district received the geographical identity tag.

Red Ant Chutney Of Mayurbhanj In Odisha Gets GI Tag

The application was made by The Mayurbhanj Kai Society Ltd in 2020 for registration in Class 30 under sub-section (1) of section 13 of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

About Red Ant Chutney or Kai Chutney

It contains valuable proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, amino acids which help to boost the immune system.

About Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:

A Geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Geographical Indications are covered as a component of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.

To read more on GI Tag, click here.

About Kai or Red Weaver Ants or Oecophylla smaragdina:

Red Weaver Ants are indigenous to the Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.
Classification: Workers, major workers and queens.
- Workers and major workers are mostly orange coloured, while queens are greenish brown coloured.
They feed on small insects and other invertebrates like beetles, flies and hymenopterans.
Benefits:
- Medicinal Oil: It is used as medicinal oil to cure rheumatism, gout, ringworm and other diseases by the tribes.
- Bio-control agents: It is recognised as bio-control agents as they protect a variety of tropical crops against insect pests, acting as an alternative to chemical insecticides.