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Devgad Alphonso growers' two-year wait for patent may end on Monday

Devgad Alphonso growers are eagerly waiting for a hearing, which might grant them the Geographical Indication (GI)-related rights. The hearing at GI registration office's Intellectual Property Rights office in Antop Hill will be conducted on Monday.

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Devgad Alphonso growers are eagerly waiting for a hearing, which might grant them the Geographical Indication (GI)-related rights. The hearing at GI registration office's Intellectual Property Rights office in Antop Hill will be conducted on Monday.

The Devgad Taluka Amba Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit or Devgad Tauka Mango Growers Cooperative Society Limited had filed the GI application in 2012. Two consultative group meetings of experts have been held since then – one in Hyderabad and the other one in Chennai. Omkar Sapre, a society board member, who is heading the team looking after the GI application process, told dna, "We are hoping to receive the GI registration after Monday's hearing. It will insulate Devgad mango growers from the sale of mangoes from Karnataka and other parts of the country."

Sapre informed that in the recent past, mangoes from many areas were being sold as Haapus or Alphonso. To attract more customers, they were even being advertised as Devgad mango. He said the reason the society decided to approach the patent office to avail GI registration was to not allow others to sell their variety in the name of Devgad mangoes.

Sapre pointed out that the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth or the Konkan Agricultural University was also trying to get GI rights for Alphonso, with a claim that Alphonso from all places and different geographical locations were same. Sapre said that even if one goes by the Konkan University's logic, "which is not true", other people like those from Karnataka should not be using the word "Devgad Alphonso". "Devgad Society is trying for GI to prevent people from other areas to use the name of Devgad mangoes," he said.

Alphonso's foreign origin

Sapre informed that during their rule in Goa, the Portuguese brought a mango from Brazil and grafted it with the local variety, giving birth to the Alphonso mango. This mango ultimately came down from Goa to Konkan. since Devgad had a separate port, there is a mention in the history that the mango was exported from the Devgad Port. He said there was a mention in a book that the British Queen was also provided with the mango exported from Devgad Port during the British rule in India.

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