Bhopal, June 30 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh has received Geographical Indication (GI) tags for 12 horticultural and agricultural products this month, marking the first time any state in the country has secured so many GI tags together, horticulture officials said.

A GI tag gives products a special identity, indicating they originate from a particular region, which helps them secure better prices in markets. The 12 products now have national recognition, marking a proud moment for farmers in Madhya Pradesh.

Key products that received GI tags include: Kumbharaj Coriander from Guna, famous for its distinct aroma – Guna produces a significant share of India’s coriander; Barman eggplant from Narsinghpur, grown on the sandy soil of Narmada river banks with a special taste; Gajriya mango from Betul; red chillies from Nimar and Malwa regions, known for their spiciness and colour, which are also exported; Khurasani tamarind from Mandu; Jumbo Sitaphal (custard apple) from Seoni, with some fruits weighing 600 to 700 grams; potatoes and Garadu from Malwa; jaggery from Narsinghpur; Singhara (water chestnut) from Jabalpur; and Noorjahan Mango from Alirajpur, known for their large size with individual mangoes weighing up to 3.5 kilograms.

The state government has set a target to increase the area under horticultural crops to 30 lakh hectares by 2030, officials said.

Currently, the area stands at about 2.8 million hectares. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has urged farmers to grow more horticultural crops alongside regular farming, believing this will boost farmers’ income.

The government is also planning to secure GI tags for more products, including tamarind from Ujjain and pickled mango from Alirajpur.

This achievement will help local products access better markets, provide economic benefits to farmers, and protect the unique identity of Madhya Pradesh’s special crops.

–IANS

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