PUBLISHED: 17 Apr 2025 at 04: 58
Phuket aims to boost the province’s agricultural and food industries while promoting local Garcinia, also known as” som khwai” ( buffalo orange ), as a Thai Geographical Indication ( GI ) product.
Suwit Pansa-ngiam, the lieutenant governor of Phuket, recently led a workshop on the fruit’s GI product membership and quality control standards.
The project’s lead architect, Benjaporn Phongnarisorn, emphasized the significance of the GI standard, noting that registering native goods as Gastrointestinal products facilitates tracking and consumer confidence, as well as enhancing the products ‘ appeal to foreign markets.
Over 212 GI materials, primarily agricultural and craft products with distinctive features, have been registered by the Department of Intellectual Property throughout the country.
Mr. Suwit referred to Phuket as a” city of gastronomy” known for its high-quality local ingredients as well as a” city of gastronomy.”
A local flower that embodies Phuket’s personality is called som khwai. In April of last year, it was approved as a GI item. This training is a crucial option to aid farmers in understanding marketing strategies for both domestically and internationally, he said.
Since 2017, Phuket Rajabhat University’s Research and Development Institute has been responsible for the fruit’s growth, including processing it for greater industry potential, according to Asst Prof. Porpattama Hammahukiattikul, director of the institute.
Her college was given the task of creating an internal control system by the Department of Intellectual Property to enable Som Khwai’s farmers to uphold GI standards and maintain long-term financial sustainability.