MP bags 12 GI tags for horticulture crops, a first for any Indian state
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh has pulled off what no Indian state has done before — securing GI tags for 12 horticulture products in a single month. From a 3.5-kg mango in Alirajpur to 700-gram custard apples in Seoni, the diversity of the list signals how seriously the state is betting on premium agri-branding as a farmer income strategy.
Key Takeaways
Madhya Pradesh received 12 GI tags for horticultural and agricultural products in June 2025 — the most by any Indian state in a single month.
Key products include Noorjahan Mango (Alirajpur, up to 3.5 kg per fruit), Kumbharaj Coriander (Guna), and Jumbo Sitaphal (Seoni, 600–700 grams ).
Red chillies from the Nimar and Malwa regions, already exported internationally, are among the newly tagged products.
The state targets 30 lakh hectares under horticulture by 2030 , up from the current approximately 28 lakh hectares .
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has urged farmers to cultivate more horticultural crops alongside traditional farming.
GI applications for Ujjain tamarind and Alirajpur pickled mango are in the pipeline.
Madhya Pradesh has secured Geographical Indication (GI) tags for 12 horticultural and agricultural products in June 2025, becoming the first state in India to receive so many GI tags in a single month, according to state horticulture officials. The milestone marks a significant boost for farmers across the state, giving their produce nationally recognised identities that can command better prices in domestic and export markets.
The 12 Products That Made the Cut
The newly tagged products span diverse agro-climatic zones of Madhya Pradesh. Kumbharaj Coriander from Guna — a district that contributes a significant share of India's coriander output — earned recognition for its distinct aroma. Barman Eggplant from Narsinghpur, cultivated on the sandy banks of the Narmada river, received a tag for its unique flavour profile.
Other recognised products include Gajriya Mango from Betul; red chillies from the Nimar and Malwa regions, prized for their colour and spiciness and already exported internationally; Khurasani Tamarind from Mandu; and Jumbo Sitaphal (custard apple) from Seoni, with individual fruits reportedly weighing between 600 and 700 grams. The list also includes potatoes and Garadu from Malwa, jaggery from Narsinghpur, Singhara (water chestnut) from Jabalpur, and the celebrated Noorjahan Mango from Alirajpur — a variety where single fruits can weigh up to 3.5 kilograms.
What a GI Tag Actually Does
A GI tag is a legally protected designation that certifies a product originates from a specific geographic region and possesses qualities or a reputation attributable to that origin. For farmers, this translates into protection against imitation products and, critically, leverage to negotiate better prices — both in wholesale markets and in premium retail channels. India's GI framework is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
Notably, several of the newly tagged products — particularly the Nimar-Malwa red chillies and Noorjahan Mango — already have export demand, meaning the GI status could accelerate their international market positioning.
The State's Broader Horticulture Ambition
The GI sweep is part of a larger push by the Madhya Pradesh government to expand its horticulture footprint. The state has set a target to bring 30 lakh hectares under horticultural crops by 2030, up from the current 2.8 million hectares (approximately 28 lakh hectares). Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has actively encouraged farmers to integrate horticultural crops alongside traditional farming as a strategy to diversify income streams.
Officials indicated that the GI drive is far from over. The state government is in the process of filing applications for additional products, including tamarind from Ujjain and pickled mango from Alirajpur.
What Comes Next for Farmers
With national recognition now in place, agricultural marketing boards and horticulture departments are expected to work on branding and market-linkage programmes to ensure farmers actually capture the price premium that GI status can unlock. The true measure of this milestone will be whether the tags translate into tangible income gains at the farm gate — a step that requires sustained marketing investment beyond the certification itself.
Point of View
But records on paper do not automatically become rupees in farmers' pockets. The harder work — market linkages, premium branding, export facilitation — is what separates a GI certificate from a genuine income multiplier. Madhya Pradesh has an opportunity here, particularly with export-ready products like Nimar-Malwa red chillies and Noorjahan Mango, but the state's horticulture marketing infrastructure will need to scale alongside the certification drive. The 2030 target of 30 lakh hectares is also ambitious against a baseline that still sits below it; without commensurate investment in cold-chain and aggregation, expanded cultivation risks depressing local prices rather than raising them.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which 12 products received GI tags in Madhya Pradesh in June 2025?
The 12 products are: Kumbharaj Coriander (Guna), Barman Eggplant (Narsinghpur), Gajriya Mango (Betul), red chillies from Nimar and Malwa, Khurasani Tamarind (Mandu), Jumbo Sitaphal (Seoni), potatoes and Garadu (Malwa), jaggery (Narsinghpur), Singhara or water chestnut (Jabalpur), and Noorjahan Mango (Alirajpur). Together they span multiple agro-climatic zones of the state.
Why is Madhya Pradesh's GI tag achievement historic?
It is the first time any Indian state has secured GI tags for as many as 12 horticultural and agricultural products in a single month, according to state horticulture officials. The feat underlines the diversity and distinctiveness of the state's agricultural output.
What is a GI tag and how does it benefit farmers?
A Geographical Indication tag is a legally protected designation under India's GI Act of 1999 that certifies a product's origin and unique qualities tied to that region. For farmers, it provides protection against imitation goods and creates leverage to command premium prices in domestic and export markets.
What is Madhya Pradesh's horticulture target for 2030?
The state government has set a target to expand the area under horticultural crops to 30 lakh hectares by 2030, up from the current approximately 28 lakh hectares. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has urged farmers to integrate horticulture with traditional farming to boost incomes.
Which new GI tags is Madhya Pradesh planning to apply for next?
The state is in the process of seeking GI tags for tamarind from Ujjain and pickled mango from Alirajpur, according to horticulture officials.
