The Khurasani Imli, fruit of Mandu's iconic Baobab tree, has been awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Officials say the recognition will protect the heritage species while creating new income opportunities for tribal communities who have nurtured it for generations.
Official Recognition and Market Impact
Dhar Collector Rajeev Ranjan Meena stated that the GI tag marks a turning point for the fruit's market reach. "With the GI tag given to Khurasani Imli, the fruit has received recognition and its peculiarities, origin, uses and everything about it will be known to the whole world," he said.
Meena added, "This will be very helpful in its branding and marketing, because till now, a few tribal people were selling this Imli on roadsides, along with products made out of it. Now, those products will be sold with official marking regarding their vitamin and nutrient values. Tourists will also take interest in it after it gets the GI tag."
Historical and Botanical Significance
The Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) is not native to India. Historical accounts indicate it arrived in Mandu around 600 years ago through Afghan and Arab traders. The town's soil and climate allowed the species to flourish, and Mandu now hosts India's largest natural cluster of these trees. Their massive, bottle-shaped trunks can store thousands of litres of water, enabling survival in harsh conditions, while leafless branches give the appearance of an upside-down tree—a sight that has long attracted visitors.
Local guide Vishwanath Tiwari noted the tree's importance in tourism. "It is in my itinerary for both inland and foreign tourists. I show this tree and tell about its historical as well as medicinal importance to them," he said.
Medicinal and Economic Value
The fruit itself is light green with a sour-sweet taste and grows in villages across Mandu. Tribal communities use the tree's juice and dried bark to treat diabetes and other ailments. GI tag expert and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Rajnikant highlighted the fruit's documented medicinal value. "The tangy pulp of Khurasani Imli is packed with Vitamin C, antioxidants, and essential minerals. Tribal healers have long used it to treat digestive ailments, fever, and fatigue, while seeds and bark also hold medicinal value," he said.
Dr. Rajnikant added, "This will encourage conservation, new plantations, and value-added industries, directly benefiting tribal families involved in collection and processing."
Conservation and Future Plans
The horticulture department estimates that more than 1,000 Baobab trees stand in the Mandu area, making it the only place in India where the species occurs in such numbers. The horticulture and agriculture departments have begun forming a cooperative society to organize marketing of Baobab products.
Despite the tree's scale and significance, officials acknowledge that no dedicated government scheme exists for its conservation, and no research has been undertaken to formally document the medicinal properties of what remains a threatened species. For now, local tribes continue to sell the fruit's juice and dried bark directly to tourists visiting Mandu.
