Terming it to be historic, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh took to Twitter saying, “What a great start to the day for Manipur! I’m really happy to share that 2 (two) products of Manipur viz Hathei Chilly & Tamenglong orange have been granted GI Tag.
This is a historic milestone in the history of Manipur which will increase the income of the farmers immensely.” The GI status is an indication that identifies goods as produced from a particular area which has special quality attributable to its geographical origin.
Tamenglong orange is known to be the species of the mandarin group, which is a unique fruit crop found only in Tamenglong district that contributes over 50 per cent of the state’s annual production. It is famous especially for its well-blended sweetness and tart taste.
Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) applied for GI tags for Tamenglong orange and Sirarakhong Hathei chilli in 2019. In Manipur’s Ukhrul, Hathei chilli is considered to be God’s gift and the pride of the region.
Hathei chilli flourishes only in the hills of Mahadev surrounding the remote Tangkhul Naga inhabited Sirarakhong village in the Ukhrul district. Manipur has been promoting these two produce by celebrating the Orange Festival every December and Sirarakhong Hathei festival every August for over a decade now.