The Darjeeling Mandarin Orange, one of the Eastern Himalayas’ most cherished horticultural treasures, has officially received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The certification, granted by the GI Registry on November 24, marks a major step toward protecting the fruit’s identity and revitalising an industry that has struggled with declining yields for more than a decade.

The Darjeeling Organic Farmers Producer Organisation (DOFPO) is the registered proprietor of the GI, with Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (UBKV) and PIC facilitating the application. The recognition is expected to help rejuvenate mandarin cultivation in the region, which has been severely affected by virus outbreaks and pest pressures over the past 15 years. For generations, the fruit has been an economic lifeline for smallholder farmers across Darjeeling and Kalimpong, closely tied to local culture, seasonal rituals and the hill economy.

The tag also elevates the Darjeeling Mandarin Orange as the second GI-certified product from the region, following Dalley Khorsani. The fruit’s identity is deeply rooted in its terroir—its sweetness, aroma and flavour shaped by the cool, mist-laden microclimate and the unique soil profiles of the Himalayan foothills. The GI status formalises these attributes, distinguishing Darjeeling mandarin from other varieties cultivated across India and abroad.

Local leaders see the certification as a catalyst for broader agricultural revival. There is growing demand to extend GI protection to other hill products with strong cultural and agro-ecological heritage—such as cardamom, ginger, iskus, plum, rayo-ko-saag, garendal (passion fruit), masem ko daal, bhadrase, pineapple and kaulo. Strengthening the region’s GI portfolio is expected to enhance market visibility, improve farmer incomes, and secure long-term recognition for the area’s biodiverse agricultural traditions.

The GI milestone signals a renewed commitment to restoring Darjeeling’s distinctive horticulture and positioning its high-value produce on a stronger national and global footing.