Manufacturers of Thoothukudi salt, Villiseri lemon and Authoor Poovan banana have sought Geographical Indication (GI) designation to ensure legal recognition of these products and improve their visibility in the market. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Chennai along with NABARD-MABIF (Madurai Agribusiness Incubation Forum) facilitated these three applications.
The application for securing a brand for salt was filed by the Thoothukudi Uppu Urapathiyalargal Sangam. Salt in this particular area is produced by solar evaporation, where seawater or bedrock is piped into large salt pans and allowed to evaporate under intense sunlight. This natural process produces a large white crystalline salt known for its purity and quality.
Thoothukudi accounts for nearly 30% of India’s total salt production, with around 25,000-30,000 acres of salt pans spread across villages like Vepalodai, Tharuvaikulam, Muttayapuram and Ottapidaram. Edible salt and industrial salt are produced here, which are supplied to households, the chemical industry, leather processing facilities, textile dyers and pharmaceutical companies.
According to the submission details, Sangam Tamil literature (such as Pattinappaalai and Puranaanuru) mentions coastal trade in pearls, salt and fish from the Gulf of Mannar region, including Tuticorin. Salt was a common commodity traded on maritime trade routes connecting Tamilakam with Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and Rome. The Pandya kings who ruled the present-day Thoothukudi region encouraged salt production as a source of state revenue. Inscriptions found in temples in southern Tamil Nadu mention salt dues and salt traders, proving its importance in the economy. Records of Chola maritime trade (11th century) show Tuticorin as an export port, with salt being transported along with pearls and spices.
The Portuguese (16th century), the Dutch (17th century) and the British (18th–20th centuries) used Tuticorin as a strategic port for the salt and pearl trade. The British Salt Department developed organized salt pans in Tuticorin, which remain active today. British records (Salt Revenue Reports, 1800) describe Tuticorin as the main salt-producing center of the Madras Presidency. After India’s independence, the Salt Commissioner’s Organization (Government of India) recognized Thoothukudi as a major salt hub, producing nearly 30% of India’s salt. The establishment of VOC Port (Tuticorin Port) further strengthened its role in the export of salt.
The request for bananas was made by the author Poovan valai Urpathiyayalargal Sangam. It is grown in Authoor village and surrounding farming hamlets in Thoothukudi. The area lies along the irrigation belt of the Tamiraparani Canal, which provides mineral-rich water essential for banana quality. The third application was filed by Villisery Lemon Urpathiyayalargal Sangam. The Villiseri lemon from Kovilpatti is a traditional and regionally specific citrus variety celebrated for its distinctive aroma, high juice content, strong acidity and naturally long shelf life. Compared to other lemon varieties, Villiseri lemons contain fewer seeds and retain freshness for a longer period of time.
Published – 17 Dec 2025 0:33 IST
