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| From left: Peter, Njie and Kalu |
Peter Damary
was given a
presentation on: What is an Origin Linked Product (OLP) and What is a
Geographical Indication (GI), How do we define the link to the ‘Terroir’, in Akosombo, Ghana for this third Regional Training Course on Identification and Inventory
of Origin Linked Quality Products and Geographical Indications from the 12th
to 16th May, 2014.
According to
him, GI in simple terms, it is legally recognized and protected name of an
Origin Linked Product. Protected as an Intellectual Property (IP), he said may
take various forms, such as collective or certification marks.
Usually
protects names with an existing ‘reputation’, said Peter.
GI, Peter
stated is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and
qualities, reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to
that place of origin. GI, may be used for a wide variety of products, whether,
agricultural or manufactured, food, beverages and artisanal products (even in
some countries industrials products are services) according to national law.
On product identification,
Peter revealed that the four main elements of GI are; specific product quality,
a name and reputation that differentiates the product from others, a define geographical
area of production and specific production methods.
How do we define the link to the ‘terroir’
A terrior is
a delimited geographical area in which a human community has developed the
course of history; a collective production method and know-how based on a
system of interactions between a physical and biological environment and a set
of human factors in which the socio technical trajectories brought into play
revealed originality.
Mr. Meleng
Benelesse, consultant from Cameroun presenting a paper on Why Origin Linked
Quality Products are important for Africa, on the example of the first two
African GIs in Cameroun pointed out that in most African countries, the
rural/primary sector is the first supplier of jobs and the main sector
contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Nevertheless,
production and fabrication activities in the sector remain limited and poverty
is an essentially rural phenomenon,
Among the
obstacles to the development of the primary sector and to the reduction of
rural poverty, we can name among others: the low productivity of producers, the
inefficiency of marketing mechanisms, the lack of access to credit, the
insufficient development of rural infrastructures.
Yet, many
origin products widely and formally spread, which have a close link with a
region because of their history, of the influence of the local geographical
milieu on production or fabrication process or also of particular know-how used
in the production and design steps, exist in Africa.
Examples of GIs:
Gari of
Savalou in Benin, the rice of Man mountains and
the farics of Karhogo in Ivory Coast, the palm oil of Boke in Guine, the
Bafiakolanut, the Bamoun masks and the Oku white honey and Penja pepper in
Cameroun.
These products
have a name a reputation which inspire confidence and which are recognized by
some traders and some consumers.
The latter
travel specially in order to buy them. Experts assert that the same product
cannot be obtained elsewhere. Some buyers only buy this quality or are willing
to pay a higher price to get it.
The difference observed with the “standard”
product can be attributed to tradition, to the environment, or special knowledge
and transformers.
These specific
regional products enhance the value of local cultures and of particular
environments. They contribute to the economy of a region, create revenues and
jobs, and keep markets. They can be sold a t a regional, national and
international scale. Nevertheless, they are usually not recognized and not
protected.
Cameroon has a fully place committee on GI. The
GI organisation brings together small or more or less big producers and also
members.
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