Geographical Indication Tag Sought for Ananthapuramu Lemon

Tirupati: A Geographical Indication (GI) tag application has been filed for “Ananthapuramu Lemon”, a citrus variety cultivated in select regions of Anantapur district, seeking official recognition for its unique qualities and regional identity.

The application was facilitated by the Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science (MITS) through its Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre (MITS-IPFC), according to vice-chancellor Dr C. Yuvaraj.

He said the institution had provided technical and procedural support for filing the application.

Dr Yuvaraj said “Ananthapuramu Lemon” had gained a distinct identity due to the region’s specific agro-climatic conditions. The fruit is known for its uniform size, attractive colour, high juice content, balanced citric acidity, strong aroma and longer shelf life.

He said lemons cultivated in the mandals of Peddapappur, Peddavadugur, Tadipatri and Yadiki possessed quality standards that distinguished them from lemons grown in other regions.

“The GI application seeks recognition of ‘Ananthapuramu Lemon’ as an agricultural product exclusively associated with the Anantapur region,” he said.

Dr Yuvaraj said GI protection would help prevent misuse of the product name, ensure better prices for genuine cultivators and improve the product’s value and marketability in domestic and international markets.

MITS founder and chancellor Dr N. Vijaya Bhaskar Choudary appreciated the efforts of Avani Farm Lab Technologies, Farmers Producer Company Limited, Anantapur, the MITS-IPFC and the MITS Research and Development Cell for their role in the GI registration process.

He said MITS had been supporting farmer-centric innovations, preservation of traditional agricultural knowledge and promotion of regional horticultural products through intellectual property rights protection.