Geographical Indications of Nagpur Orange (GI-385):

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Nagpur orange is a variety of mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) grown
in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. The fruit has a pockmarked exterior and sweet and
juicy pulp. The Geographical Indication  was applied for Nagpur orange with the
registrar of GIs in India, and is effective as of April 2014. It's because Nagpur is the
largest producer of oranges in India and contributes to over 3% of world
production. The city is known as "Orange City in India" and the "Orange Capital of
India", for the same reasons.
Nagpur oranges blossom during the monsoon season and are ready to be
harvested. The orange crop grows twice a year. The fruit available from
September to December is Ambiya which has a slightly sour taste. It is followed by
the sweeter Mrig crop in January. Normally, farmers go for either of the two
varieties.

Reasons for specifying it as Nagpur Orange:-

Nagpur oranges, which are a variety of orange grown in Nagpur, are quite popular
not only in India but also outside with its sweetness and juicy pulp. The Mandarin
orange, which is also known as mandarin or mandarine is the common type of
orange that is widely cultivated in Nagpur. Nagpur mandarin is the most popular
fruit among all types of oranges in India due to its sweet-sour appealing taste and
easy peelable quality of the rind. Some of the finest Mandarins are cultivated in
Nagpur, Amravati and Wardha districts of Maharashtra. Nagpur Santra, a type of
loose jacketed orange belongs to this category of Mandarins. Nagpur Santra is
commonly grown in the Satpura Hills of Vidharba region, Anonymous (1991)
Nagpur oranges are widely used as fresh fruit in India. It also has many other
purposes like producing canned segments, squash, juice concentrate, beverages
and jams. The peel of Mandarin is a good source of essential pectin and oil. It is
also used as a basic material for the production of candies, cattle feed and
alcohol. So, you can see several firms and industries that are functioning in this
area in Nagpur. So don’t forget to visit the orange market in Nagpur and taste the
unique Nagpur oranges during your holiday trip to Nagpur city.
History of Nagpur Orange cultivation: -
The story how the cultivation of Nagpur orange in this region started with Late
Shri Raghujiraje Bhonsle who tested Nagpur orange for the first time as a kitchen
garden plant during 1896 and it was a successful venture. Since then the
cultivation of oranges in attained momentum year after year and now orange is
one of the most remunerative potential foreign exchange earning crops in this
region. Nagpur oranges are also one of the horticultural crops after mango and
banana at national level.
The orange farms and plantations of several hectares is a common scene all over
the Nagpur district. This land is by far the largest cultivator of oranges as
compared to other cities in India. While, majority of cultivation is done in the
nearby region of Vidharba, with over around 80,000 hectares of land used for the
purpose. Nagpur being more of a commercial center uses only 20, 965 hectares of
land for orange cultivation. The total production of oranges is around 5 lakhs tons
per year.

As mentioned earlier, it is the nature of soil and the climatic condition of the area
which decides what type of farming is suitable there. Nagpur has generally a hot
climate, which is perfect for orange cultivation.

Propagation of Nagpur Orange: -

 The propagation of the Nagpur Orange is by seeds and also propagated
vegetatively by T-Budding. Once the monsoon starts in the month of July-
August the orange seedlings are transplanted.
 Budding of the crop should preferably take place in the last week of January
or the first week of February following the shield budding method
 It requires the lot of irrigation like during the summer period the trees will
have to be irrigated once in every 5-7 days whereas during the period of
winter the pants are watered once in every 10-15 days.
  Oranges are planted in the pits of 50 cm*50 cm*50 cm size in a square
system with a spacing of 4.5-6 m.

Orange production in Nagpur: -

Nagpur district have a largest area, production and productivity, that’s why this city
is known as orange city. Nagpur district comprises of 15,205 ha. Area under orange
crop and with the production of 1,35,615 tons of oranges Agricultural Statistical
information Maharashtra state, 2001-08 Part-11). Orange has, not only important
place in internal market, but has its place in international market too (Sapate, 1993).It
has assumed a discernible significance with wider precepts and better potential.
Hence, effort must be made for boosting the producti on of oranges in the
country which has high potential for export. (Bhende, 1965)
In view of growing demand for Nagpur oranges for domestic consumption and export
various agencies recognized the urgent need for increasing production in Nagpur
oranges.

Distinct Characteristics of Nagpur Orange: -

 Nagpur Mandarin or NM has a unique blend of sugar and acid, which
cannot be seen in any other orange types.

 The loose skin of Nagpur oranges makes them easily peelable.

 It is basically a table fruit and is not fully circular in shape. Nagpur Mandarin
has deep orange colour and slices.

 These oranges with a peculiar aroma and unique taste make it different
from other orange varieties.

 The Nagpur orange has a peculiar feature of leaving a bitter taste in the juice.
Limonin in the fibre and seeds brings about this taste. In a commercial unit,
the seeds and fibre cannot be removed, or consequently, the bitterness
reduced.
  Nagpur Orange is characterized by unique sweet-sour flavor and has an
aroma that is matchless.
The GI tag has been accorded on the basis of these unique qualities that can
be attained only under specific soil and agro-climatic conditions of the
Vidarbha region.

GI status to Nagpur Orange: -

Citrus Reticulata Blanco, the world-famous orange of Nagpur, was recently given
the Geographical Indicators (GI) tag under the Geographical Indication of Goods,
(Registration and Protection) Act 1999. This means the growers of the Nagpur
orange, or Nagpur mandarin (as it is known to scientists), will now be able to
brand their products under the tag.
The Nagpur Mandarin is being awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status. GI
is a sign, logo or a name used on certain products in a certain geographical
location. GI acts as a certification that the product has some unique qualities,
enjoys a certain reputation due to its geographical origin. The GI status actually
gives the NM farmers the privilege to sell their oranges in both the international
and domestic markets. It will help improve the processing industry as well as
export market for regional farmers.

Nagpur oranges are widely used as fresh fruit in India. It also has many other
purposes like producing canned segments, squash, juice concentrate, beverages
and jams. The peel of Mandarin is a good source of essential pectin and oil. It is
also used as a basic material for the production of candies, cattle feed and
alcohol. So, you can see several firms and industries that are functioning in this
area in Nagpur. So don’t forget to visit the orange market in Nagpur and taste the
unique Nagpur oranges during your holiday trip to Nagpur city.
Application Details: -

Suggestions: -
After getting details from the cultivators of Nagpur Orange, I suggest that, the
source for obtaining GI Tag is based on its uniqueness features and specifications
in Nagpur orange. But due to change in various environmental changes (such as
soil degradation, heat-wave and industrialization) in the Nagpur district, thus the
has also brought an effect in uniqueness feature of it. And the same can be
corrected if further steps taken by government to preserve the same and coming
with new ideas to deal in.
CITATIONS
 Bhende, B.R. (1965). A critical study of cultivation and marketing of oranges
in a selected area of Saoner tahsil. M.Sc. Thesis, Dr.Panjabrao
Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, M.S. (INDIA).
 Anonymous (1991): Cost of establishment of orange orchard in Nagpur
district. Joint Agresco and research report, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi
Vidyapeeth, Akola, 9-11pp.
 Nighot, M.N., Alshi, M.R. and Joshi, C.K. (1986). Economics of Production
of Nagpur oranges. Indian J. Agric. Econ.,12(4):583-58.
 Sapate, (1993). An economics of raising orange nurseries in
Nagpurd i s t r i c t . M . S c . T h e s i s , D r . P a n j a b r a o D e s h m u k h
K r i s h i Vidyapeeth, Akola, M.S. (INDIA)
 https://www.nagpuronline.in/city-guide/nagpur-the-land-of-oranges
 https://www.outlookindia.com/national/heatwave-in-maharashtra-vidarbha-
is-affecting-orange-orchards-yield-and-quality-news-197413
 https://www.scribd.com/document/444897627/nagpur-oranges-pdf#
 https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/385