The West Bengal government is planning to get Geographical Identification (GI) tag for four traditional sweetmeat delicacies of the state with a view to protect them from imitations and for exporting them in future. The four sweetmeats for which GI tags are being sought are ‘Moa’ of Jainagar, ‘Sarpuria’ of Krishnagar, and ‘Sitabhog’ and ‘Mihidana’ of Burdwan.

While ‘Jainagar-er moa’ is made of puffed rice and date palm jaggery at Jainagar in South 24 Parganas district, Krishnagar of Nadia district is famous for ‘Sarpuria’ which is made ofmilk cream. ‘Sitabhog’ and ‘Mihidana’ are rice based sweets of Burdwan.

The government also has plans to export sweets from the state in future and the GI tags would be of immense help in that endeavour.

“The GI tag is necessary for these items to protect them from cheap imitations. It will also help preserve quality,” Mr. Aikat said at the inaugural programme of ‘Mishti Mela’ (sweet fair) in Malda district. Nine districts of the state participated in the two-day sweet fair in which ‘Langcha’ of Shaktigarh, ‘Chamcham’ of Belakoba, ‘Jalbhara’ of Hooghly, ‘Chhanabara’ of Murshidabad and ‘Ras-kadamba’ of Malda and other delicacies are on sale.