Gucchi Mushroom

The CEO of NITI Ayog, Amitabh Kant, has said that GI tag has been sought for India’s costliest mushroom. The costliest mushroom from Jammu & Kashmir region is known as Gucchi mushroom. This mushroom is grown in the wild in Doda district of the state. It is an heirloom crop that is priced over 20,000 per kg. In the year 2021, the saffron from the region had also get the GI tag.  The Agriculture Production Department J&K under Principal Secretary Navin Choudhary, has sought for the GI tagging for Gucchi Mushroom after this department launched GI tagged Saffron from J&K in the United Arab Emirates.

Gucchi Mushroom

The scientific name for the costliest mushroom of India is Morchella esculenta. It is commonly known as common morel, yellow morel, Morel, true morel, morel mushroom and sponge morel.  This is a type of fungus belonging to the family Morchellaceae of the Ascomycota. It is an edible mushroom.

Characteristic features

The body of the mushrooms begins as a tightly compressed and grayish sponge with lighter ridges. The body expands to form a large yellowish sponge with large pits and ridge. these ridges are grown on the large white stem. The pitted yellow-brown caps measure 2–7 centimetres. The pits are rounded and irregularly arranged.

Geographical Indication (GI)

The GI tag a name or sign used on products corresponding to a specific geographical location or origin. The geographical indication acts as an indication of the product’s source. It is kind of certificate that is given to the product having certain qualities. It is given to the products that is made with the traditional methods. It can also be given to the products that have set a good reputation because of its geographical origin. This protection or tag is granted through the TRIPS Agreement.

TRIPS Agreement

It stands for the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. It is an international legal agreement between the member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This agreement sets a minimum standard to get regulated by national governments. The agreement was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). It is administered by the World Trade Organisation.