The Spark of the Dispute
The controversy ignited when the GI Registry in Chennai granted Geographical Indication tags for 'Unjha Jeera' (cumin) and 'Unjha Fennel' in March 2026. The registration was awarded not to a group of farmers, but to the Agriculture Produce Market Committee
(APMC) in Unjha, a town in Gujarat's Mehsana district. This decision has sparked outrage among farmers in neighbouring Rajasthan, who are major cultivators of both cumin and fennel. They argue that Unjha is merely a large trading hub, not the primary region of cultivation.
Understanding GI Tags and APMCs
A GI tag is a form of intellectual property that identifies a product as originating from a specific geographical location, possessing qualities or a reputation attributable to that origin. Think of Darjeeling Tea or Alphonso Mangoes; the tag protects their authenticity and often allows them to command higher prices. APMCs, on the other hand, are statutory market committees created by state governments to regulate the trade of agricultural produce. For decades, farmers have brought their produce to these mandis, where traders and commission agents buy it. While intended to protect farmers, these markets are often criticized for issues like price-fixing and limited direct market access for growers.
Why Rajasthan's Farmers Are Protesting
Farmers in Rajasthan fear the GI tag will be used against them. Their main contention is that Unjha is simply a market, or 'mandi', where they have sold their produce for years. They believe that traders at the Unjha APMC will now brand their own traded spices as premium 'Unjha Jeera' while classifying the cumin and fennel grown in Rajasthan as inferior, thereby driving down the prices for the actual cultivators. Organizations like the Jodhpur-based South Asia Biotechnology Centre have formally objected, seeking the revocation of the tags. The core of their argument is that a GI tag should recognize the region of origin and cultivation, not a trading centre.
The APMC's Defence
The chairman of the Unjha APMC, Dinesh Patel, defends the GI registration. His argument rests on historical precedent, claiming that the Unjha region was a pioneer in jeera cultivation. He suggests that even if cultivation has spread to other areas like Rajasthan, the origin of the crop's reputation lies with Unjha. The GI registration itself lists several districts in Gujarat as the geographical area, not just Unjha town. This stance frames the GI tag not just around current cultivation volume but around the historical identity and marketing prowess of the Unjha market.
A Question of Identity and Economics
This conflict raises a fundamental question: Should a GI tag belong to the cultivators or to the marketplace that made the product famous? Rajasthan's farmers have cultivated specialty varieties and feel their unique identity is being undermined. They worry that their ability to get premium prices for high-quality produce will be diluted, as their crops may now be absorbed under the generic 'Unjha' brand identity, which is controlled by the APMC. For them, this is not just about a name, but about their economic future and the recognition of their agricultural labour and expertise.
