Katpadi: “Mattugulla” gets long awaited G.I. Certificate

By Prakash Katpadi
Bellevision Media Network

Katpadi, 27 November 2011: In order to get the patent to “Mattugulla” the historically famous vegetable of Udupi district rural area has been now issued notification by the Government of India Chennai Geographical Indication Registry with the G.I. certification. This has brought smiles on the faces of the Mattugulla farmers who are long awaiting for the patent on Mattugulla. The certificate has been issued through the Karnataka State Agricultural Department on Saturday. Mattugulla has been issued exclusive G.I. No. 199 and certificate No. 158.

 

 

 
Mattugulla Farmer’s Sangha Chief Secretary has told the media on Saturday that the Government of India Chennai Geographical Indication Registry has issued the Mattugulla G.I. Certificate through the Bangalore Agriculture Department.
 
Mattu, Kaipunjal, Pangala coastal areas of the Kaup constituency have been cultivating gulla in about 500 acre land continuously. Here along with the rice Gulla has been cultivated alternatively and more than hundred families depend on this crop. The farmers here have the opinion that even if the Mattugulla seeds are taken from here and cultivated elsewhere the same taste in the vegetable cannot be obtained.
 
Mattugulla which is believed to be developed from the seeds given by Mahaguru Vadiraja with mantra, is tried and experimented cultivating even in Lakshadweep. Also there are opinions that it grows well in the sand mixed brown soil and the weather there suits it well.
 
On this Indian brinjal there was competition from another kind of foreign brinjal called B.T. which is genetically modified, so to preserve this traditionally natural brinjal, the Mattugulla farmers chose to fight. With this reason the initiation was received for the patent of this vegetable. With the continuous fight from the farmers, even the Indian government conducted survey and now the G.I. certificate has been issued which is a victory of the association, said farmer Shriram Rao and Laxman mattu.