- ‘Sirsi Supari’ grown in Uttar Kannada of Karnataka has been accorded the GI tag on 4 March 2019.
- The Registrar of Geographical Indications, Government of India has first time accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to a arecanut.
- The Totagars’ Cooperative Sale Society (TSS) Ltd, a Sirsi-based agri cooperative, is the registered proprietor of the GI ‘Sirsi Supari.
- It is cultivated in Yellapura, Siddapura and Sirsi taluks.
- ‘Sirsi Supari’ is medium sized and round in shape. It has a somewhat ash coloured hard seed, Hegde said.
- The fruit of ‘Sirsi Supari’ turns from yellow to scarlet as it ripens, and consists of a thick fibrous pericarp (husk) that encloses this seed.
- According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, GI as a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
