The North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) on Friday organised a workshop on ‘Post GI Activities for Naga Tree Tomato and registration for Authorized Users’ in Kohima.

The workshop conducted with the aim of creating awareness among the farmers about the usage of Geographical Indication registration and legal rights adhering to it, was attended by hundreds of Naga farmers

The Naga tree tomatoes are locally known as sei bangenuo - the name is a derivation from the Tenyidie dialect which translates to tree tomato. The fruit looks a lot like tomato, but bears an egg-like shape. With over 30 species around the world, the Naga tree tomato is also called ‘tamarillo’. It was given the GI number 374 between April 2014 and March 2015.

Jerry Patton, deputy director of horticulture, stated that the Naga tree tomato is a “traditional food item of the Naga people” and is “well established and distributed all over Naga Hills”, and is grown in the districts of Kohima, Wokha, Zunheboto, Kiphiri, Tuensang, Mon and Phek. Patton added that the department had purchased “200 hectares” of land to produce and promote tree tomato and king chilli.