NAMSAI : A three-day capacity building programme on Geographical Indications (GI) and post-GI livelihood initiatives concluded at Hotel Namlau here on Friday, equipping stakeholders with practical knowledge on GI registration, value addition, branding, marketing and livelihood promotion.
The programme was organised by the Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Kolkata, the apex training institute of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Participants included representatives of non-governmental organisations, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Organic Farmer Producer Organisations (OFPOs), government departments and other stakeholders from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
During the technical sessions, BIRD Kolkata Faculty Member and Programme Director Dr Bhawana Pal explained the provisions of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, the registration process and the role of stakeholders in promoting GI products. NABARD Deputy General Manager Vivek Anand highlighted the vast potential of GI products in the Northeast for generating sustainable livelihoods and strengthening rural enterprises.
In an online session, Padma Shri awardee Dr Rajni Kant, popularly known as the “GI Man of India”, shared practical insights into the importance and process of GI registration.
As part of the programme, participants undertook an exposure-cum-field visit to successful GI initiatives in Namsai and Changlang districts. They visited the Khaw Tai (Khamti Rice) Processing Unit of NOSAAP at Lathao, where they observed scientific processing, grading, packaging and value addition practices.
The delegation also visited the Tangsa Textile Handloom Cluster at Nongtham and the Choeping Tibetan Cooperative Society at Miao to gain first-hand knowledge of traditional weaving and GI-tagged handmade carpet production.
The participants further toured NABARD-supported NAVI Rural Mart at Miao and the NOSAAP Rural Mart at Namsai to understand how rural marts facilitate branding, marketing and sale of GI products.
On the concluding day, Arunachal University of Studies Professor Dr Sajjan Choudhuri delivered a session on branding and marketing strategies for GI products. Dr Bhawana Pal discussed post-registration challenges and opportunities, while NOSAAP Chief Executive Officer Chau Athina Chauhai shared the success story of promoting GI-tagged Khaw Tai rice through collective farmer initiatives. Department of Textiles and Handloom Craft Superintendent Dusu Tatu highlighted government schemes supporting traditional textiles and handloom products.
The organisers said the programme would contribute to strengthening GI-based entrepreneurship, preserving traditional knowledge, improving market access and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities across the region.
The programme was coordinated by NABARD Namsai Assistant General Manager and District Development Manager Kamal Roy. Delivering the vote of thanks, he acknowledged the contributions of BIRD Kolkata, resource persons, partner institutions and participants, and stressed the importance of collaboration among government agencies, producer organisations and local communities to unlock the full potential of GI products for rural prosperity and inclusive economic growth.
