Kanyakumari Matti Banana
| Kanyakumari Matti Banana | |
|---|---|
| Geographical indication | |
| Alternative names | Matti Pazham |
| Description | Tamil Nadu banana is a banana variety cultivated in Tamil Nadu |
| Type | Banana |
| Area | Kanyakumari district |
| Country | India |
| Registered | 31 July 2023 |
| Official website | ipindia.gov.in |
Kanyakumari Matti Banana is a variety of banana grown in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.[1][2][3] It is a common and widely cultivated crop in the Agatheeswaram, Thovalai, Thiruvattar talukas of Kanyakumari district. Kanyakumari Matti Banana ia a traditional table banana cultivar with medicinal value, characterized by its fragrant, sweet, and slightly acidic flavor, firm texture, and powdery nature and is a rare variety grown only in the hills of South Travancore (Undivided Tamil Nadu and Kerala before States Reorganisation Act of 1956) which is near Nagercoil, Kanyakumari.[4] It has three varieties: Semmatti (red-coloured), Then Matti (honey), and Malai Matti (Hill).[5][6] Under its Geographical Indication tag, it is referred to as "Kanyakumari Matti Banana".
Name
[edit]Kanyakumari Matti Banana (Matti Pazham) is a prized crop in Kanyakumari district and so named after it.[7]
Description
[edit]The Matti banana fruit has a 2.5–3 cm long apex resembling a crocodile's mouth, earning it the nickname "Crocodile Finger Banana".[6] Unlike typical banana bunches that grow long, straight, and evenly, Matti Banana Fingers have a distinctive wind-blown appearance.[2] The Matti banana has a low sugar content (8.7 TSS), making it suitable for infants, unlike other bananas that can cause cold issues due to high sugar.[8] The banana flower hangs almost parallel to the ground, at a 95° angle to the stem. Matti bananas have shown strong resistance to Sigatoka disease.[9]
Geographical indication
[edit]It was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry, under the Union Government of India, on 31 July 2023 and is valid until 28 April 2030.[10][11]
Kanyakumari Banana and Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Limited from Veeyanoor, proposed the GI registration of Kanyakumari Matti Banana. After filing the application in April 2021, the banana was granted the GI tag in 2023 by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, making the name "Kanyakumari Matti Banana" exclusive to the bananas grown in the region. It thus became the third banana variety from Tamil Nadu after Sirumalai Hill Banana and the 59th type of goods from Tamil Nadu to earn the GI tag.[12][13][14]
The GI tag protects the banana from illegal selling and marketing and gives it legal protection and a unique identity.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Indian Journal of Agricultural Research. Agricultural Research Communication Centre. 1997. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ a b Kolappan, B. (17 August 2023). "Kanniyakumari's Matti is distinct with fragrance and honey-like taste". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (26 July 2022). "Vinod Sahadevan Nair has 400-plus varieties of banana on his farm in Parassala, Thiruvananthapuram". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Kandavel, Sangeetha (31 July 2023). "Tamil Nadu's Jaderi 'namakatti', chedibutta saree and Kanniyakumari Matti banana get GI tag". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Banana festival offers a glimpse of rare varieties to farmers". The Times of India. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ a b "This Banana Breed From Kanyakumari District Gets Geographical Indication Tag". News18. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Menon, Anasuya (27 August 2020). "Where do the banana leaves for our meals come from?". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Where bananas are considered sacred". BBC. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Awareness Level of Geographical Indication on Kanyakumari Matti Banana". ResearchGate GmbH. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu banana". Intellectual Property India. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Rajan, C. Palanivel (1 December 2023). "GI-tagged agricultural products face challenges due to climate change". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu tops GI chart with 58 tags; three more products join the league". The Times of India. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Life-Enriching Banana Festival". Indian Council of Agricultural Research Krishi Bhavan. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Fathima, Iffath (29 May 2024). "IIHR showcases diverse jackfruit, banana, mango". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 19 December 2024.