Kumaon Chyura Oil Of Uttarakhand Gets GI TAG – Free PDF Download

Published On November 20th, 2021 Leave a comment

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Kumaon Chyura oil from Uttrakhand gets a GI tag This multipurpose nutritious and hygienic oil is used for edible purposes and making various types of food products.
Chyura is also considered as the backbone of Uttarakhand’s rural economy.

BUTTER TREE

Chyura or Indian Butter Tree (Diploknema Butyracea), largely found at an altitude of 1600 m is one of the most economically important but lesser known and underutilized multipurpose tree of the Himalayas.
This Kalpabrikshaor Kalpavriksha as it is known in Uttarakhand has an ancient association of spiritual and cultural importance with the indigenous communities of the Himalayas.

The Chyura tree was traditionally used for beekeeping by the natives. This tree serves as a source for many products such as seeds for oil, flower nectar for honey, edible fruits that have medicinal properties, wood for small timber, fuel and furniture and leaves for cattle fodder.
However, the seeds and flowers of Chyura have changed the rural economy opening up a whole new dimension of organic and traditional farming with value-added products.

Chyura grows extensively in the area of Pithoragarh and Kumaon as well as the adjoining districts of Almora, Bageshwar and Nainital.
These trees have a tendency to grow in shadow valleys or on riverine settlements.
Chyura trees start yielding generally between five and nine years of age.
The fruiting happens in the month of April – July.
The innermost core of the Chyura fruit contains a thin but hard brown seed with a glossy coating and within it rests its kernel.
These seeds are used for oil extraction while the seed residue acts as a potent mosquito repellent.
The oil is extracted from the kernel of the Chyura seeds. This has been prepared in the age-old method for generations by the locals here. Oval-shaped fruits are picked from the ground after dropping off naturally.
The fruits are deseeded and the seeds are cleaned and boiled to soften their covering after which the kernel can be easily removed by simply pressing them on the floor.
Chyura ghee has immense potential in a wide range of industries like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, confectioneries and others.
The Government along with many self-help groups have ventured into Chyura soap making as an additional income-generating opportunity. The Chyura honey is also another excellent product that can be marketed as organic.

Munsyari rajma, Bhotia dann (a rug made by Bhotias a nomadic community), aipan (traditional art made on special occasions), ringal craft (art of making items by knitting bamboo strands), copper products and thulma (blankets spun from locally-sourced fabric).

Besides, the state has also applied for a GI tag for 11 farm products – red rice, Berinag tea, gahat, mandua, jhangora, burans sarbat, kala bhatt, chaulai/ramdana, Almora lakhori mirch, pahari toor dal and malta fruit.
Of the 6.48-lakh hectares of agricultural land in the Himalayan state, traditional products are being cultivated on 3.50-lakh hectares.
Tejpatta was the first product to get the GI tag.
Having accorded with the GI tag, the products will fetch a good price, with the demand likely to go up. Those associated with the production of these items will also benefit

Q.Consider the following statements about Kumaon Chyura oil :

Chyura oil from himachal gets a GI tag This multipurpose nutritious and hygienic oil
Chyura grows extensively in the area of Pithoragarh and Kumaon as well as the adjoining districts of Almora, Bageshwar and Nainital.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Both 1 and 2 are correct

(b) 1 Only

(c) 2 only

(d) Both 1 and 2 are incorrect