Kanteimundi Brinjal: A Wonder

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is a popular and extensively cultivated vegetable in India. The Geographical Indication Registry, Government of India recently accepted “Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal” for the registration of the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

The “Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal” originated from the Badabanapur and Ratanpur parts of the Khandapada block. With the growing time, the farmers of the whole Nayagarh district are cultivating this particular variety of brinjal which has already acquired popularity and mass acceptance.

The special character of this “Kanteimundi Brinjal” is comparatively smaller in size, green in colour and contains more seeds which enhances the taste. The uniqueness of this “Kanteimundi Brinjal” is that it is pest and disease resistant and is required to be cultivated under specific climatic condition at a specific geographical location. The stem of the brinjal carries small and plenty number of prickly thorns, due to the presence of such plenty number of thorns it is necessary to pluck such brinjal only with the help of gloves. The brinjals are ready for first picking in about 40-60 days of cultivation.

The Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) for The Nilamadhav Farmers’ Association filed to obtain the GI registration on 08/02/2021 before the Geographical Indication Registry, Government of India under Class 31 for Agricultural goods and stands advertised in the present day. This is an appreciating awareness among the common farmers of the Nayagarh district in Odisha.