Mandu’s Khurasani Imli (Baobab tree) Gets GI Tag

The fruit of Mandu’s iconic Baobab tree, locally known as Khurasani Imli, has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

• The recognition is expected to protect the unique identity of the product, strengthen its branding, and create livelihood opportunities for tribal communities that have conserved the trees for generations.

Significance of the GI Tag

• Provides legal protection against misuse and imitation.
• Enhances branding and market value of Khurasani Imli.
• Enables sale of certified products with official information on their nutritional and vitamin content.
• Promotes tourism by highlighting Mandu’s unique natural heritage.
• Generates additional income opportunities for local and tribal communities.

About the Baobab Tree (Adansonia digitata)

• Scientific name: Adansonia digitata.
• Family: Malvaceae.
• Native to Africa; not indigenous to India.
• Believed to have been introduced to Mandu (Madhya Pradesh) nearly 600 years ago by Afghan and Arab traders.
• Mandu now hosts the largest concentration of naturally occurring Baobab trees in India.

Key Features

• Massive, water-storing trunk adapted to arid conditions.
• Distinctive branching pattern resembling an upside-down tree.
• Extensive root system enables survival under harsh environmental conditions.
• Highly resistant to drought, fire, and termites.
• Some baobab trees are believed to live for up to 5,000 years.

Interesting Facts

• The name “Baobab” is derived from the Arabic “bu hibab”, meaning “fruit with several seeds.”
• The genus Adansonia commemorates French botanist Michel Adanson, while digitata refers to the tree’s hand-shaped (palmate) leaves.
• There are eight species of Adansonia, distributed across Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Sources: ET & DTE

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