Chicken breed battle: Madhya Pradesh a step away from winning
Madhya Pradesh is inching closer to getting the nativity tag for the protein-rich breed of chicken, popularly known as "Kadaknath", even as the neighboring Chhattisgarh has also staked claim over it. The Geographical Indication registry office in Chennai has given an initial clearance to Madhya Pradesh for securing the "GI" tag for this black-winged chicken variety even though both states have sought for it.
A battle over the GI tag
Madhya Pradesh has filed the application with the registry for the bird's nativity, while Chhattisgarh has sought the GI tag for the unique way in which the chicken is bred there, leading to the production of a large meat volume.
MP's application given initial clearance under 'poultry meat' category
On March 28, the GI registry published in its journal that the application of Gramin Vikas Trust in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district is "hereby advertised as accepted" under relevant sections of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The trust's application for the GI tag has been given an initial clearance under the "poultry meat" category.
Jhabua-based NGO might get GI certificate in three months
If the registry does not get any objection in three months, then the Jhabua-based NGO will get the GI certificate after the stipulated time, MP Animal Husbandry Department's Additional Deputy Director Dr. Bhagwan Manghnani said.
MP applied for GI tag in 2012
The Jhabua-based NGO applied for the GI tag in 2012 on behalf of the tribal families involved in breeding it, Dr. Manghnani said. "Kadaknath" is known for its high iron content and much lower cholesterol than other breeds, say experts. It sells at about Rs. 550 per kg, which is much higher than the price of other chicken varieties.
Chhattisgarh decides not to raise any objection against MP's claim
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh, which also applied for the GI tag of "Kadaknath" recently, has decided not to raise any objection against Madhya Pradesh's claim. "We are not going to object to MP's GI tag claim," said Saurabh Kumar, the Collector of Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. "Chhattisgarh filed for the GI tag in November 2017, while the MP's plea was submitted much before that," he said.
Dantewada district Collector speaks on the claim
"We don't want to engage in a fight with MP. We only want that the interest of the 180 groups of tribal women (in Dantewada), who breed about 2.5 lakh chicks of this variety every year, may not be affected," Kumar said.
