Geography & BiodiversityImportant2025-11-24

GI Tag Granted to Darjeeling Mandarin Oranges

In News

What Happened

On November 24, 2025, the Geographical Indications Registry officially granted the GI tag to Darjeeling Mandarin oranges, locally known as 'suntala'. The proposal was initially filed by Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV) and later transferred to the Darjeeling Organic Farmers Producer Organisation to ensure local community ownership. The Patent Information Centre of West Bengal provided technical support for the application.

Why It Matters

This recognition is critical for reviving orange cultivation in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills, which has faced severe decline over the past 15 years due to the Citrus Tristeza virus and pest attacks. The GI tag protects the regional brand identity, helping local farmers secure premium pricing in both domestic and international markets.

Background

History & Context

The GI initiative was launched in August 2022 by a former UBKV professor to address the rapid decline of Darjeeling's mandarin orchards. A major biological threat to these orchards has been the Citrus Tristeza virus, a devastating pathogen transmitted by the brown citrus aphid. To ensure that economic benefits directly reach the grassroots level, the applicant status was modified in August 2024 from an academic institution to a local farmers' cooperative. The proposal met all requirements and was published in the GI Journal in July 2025 before receiving formal approval in November.

What Changed

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BEFORE: Darjeeling mandarin oranges lacked geographic protection, leaving local farmers vulnerable to brand misuse and depressed market value. NOW: The fruit holds official GI status, legally protecting its authenticity and allowing farmers to command premium prices.
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BEFORE: The GI application was officially held by Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, centralizing control within an academic institution. NOW: Ownership of the GI tag rests with the Darjeeling Organic Farmers Producer Organisation, granting intellectual property control directly to the grassroots farming community.
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BEFORE: Farmers struggling with crop losses due to the Citrus Tristeza virus fought the decline with fragmented, localized efforts. NOW: The GI tag registers local growers as authorized users, unifying them to better leverage government agricultural revival schemes like 'Mission Suntala'.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This development aligns with Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 - Agriculture, specifically the section discussing India's Horticulture Crops. It highlights the practical application of Geographical Indications (rooted in the WTO's TRIPS Agreement) to protect the economic interests of farmers cultivating region-specific, climate-dependent crops against biological and market threats.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

With reference to the GI tag granted to Darjeeling Mandarin oranges, consider the following statements: 1. The GI tag ownership currently rests with Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya to ensure academic regulation of the crop. 2. The Citrus Tristeza virus has been a primary biological factor responsible for the decline of mandarin cultivation in the Darjeeling hills. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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