THRISSUR:Nilambur teak will soon be added to the select list of Kerala produce with GI (geographical indication) tag. The efforts by the IPR Cell of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) to secure the GI status for this unique timber variety with the support of Nilambur Teak Heritage Society, KFRI and Department of Forests are set to bear fruit.
The British identified the superior quality of the teak grown in the Nilambur plantations and forests and the region became the major supplier of timber in the world. Nilambur was christened the Mecca of teak and tonnes of timber was taken to London and other parts of the world. The Nilambur- Shoranur Railway line was laid for transporting the logs.
As the fame of Nilambur teak spread, wood products which fraudulently claimed to be from Nilambur started appearing in the wood and furniture markets. Realising the potential risk posed by these items to the Nilambur timber market, the IPR Cell and College of Forestry of Kerala Agricultural University motivated the people of Nilambur to legally protect their rights by registering this unique product as a Geographical Indication under GI Act.
Nilambur Teak Heritage Society joined hands with the Kerala Agricultural University to register Nilambur teak as a GI product of India. The IPR Cell of KAU coordinated the legal procedures. Scientific studies to validate the unique qualities of Nilambur teak were done at KAU’s College of Forestry. KFRI centres at Peechi and Nilambur and the Forest Department supported the venture.
“The preparations for registering Nilambur teak were initiated with a workshop of stakeholders organised by KAU in 2013. The application for GI registration was submitted to GI Registry, Chennai, in December 2015. The modalities having been completed, the formal granting of GI tag to Nilambur teak is expected at the next sitting of the Registry. Members of Nilambur Teak Heritage Society, coordinator of KAU IPR Cell and experts from College of Forestry have been asked to attend the sitting at the Registry scheduled this month end,” said KAU PRO Ajit Kumar.