Shillong, July 21: Meghalaya’s famed Lakadong turmeric is set to receive a major boost with the launch of the ₹175.45-crore Mission Golden Spice, an integrated programme aimed at increasing production, strengthening processing and taking the state’s premium spice to international markets while enhancing farmers’ incomes.
Launched on Monday by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the mission will cover the entire value chain from cultivation and certification to processing, branding and exports.
Jointly funded by the Ministry of DoNER, the North Eastern Council (NEC), the Union Ministry of Agriculture and the Meghalaya government, the programme will be implemented from 2026 to 2030 across West and East Jaintia Hills, where Lakadong turmeric is grown and renowned for its exceptionally high curcumin content.
The mission aims to expand the cultivation area from 2,500 hectares to 7,000 hectares, increase production to 49,400 metric tonnes by 2030 and raise farmers’ income to ₹80 per kg. The initiative is expected to benefit more than 17,500 people, with women accounting for 99% of those engaged in processing and institutional activities.
Describing it as Mission Golden Spice, Scindia said it is “built on the innate strength of the Northeast” and will focus on strengthening the entire value chain, from production and processing to branding and exports. He said the initiative would help reduce distress sales and open new markets for Lakadong turmeric in the United States, the European Union, Japan and the Gulf countries.
The Union Minister also recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased Meghalaya’s Lakadong turmeric at the G7 Summit, calling it an important step towards strengthening the global presence of the state’s flagship agricultural product.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the uniqueness of Lakadong turmeric stems from the soil and ecosystem of the Jaintia Hills, making it difficult to replicate elsewhere. He said the mission comes at a crucial time and is expected to accelerate the growth of a sector that has already transformed the lives of thousands of farmers, especially women.
Sangma said the state has also strengthened value addition and farmer support by providing technology, infrastructure and working capital to farmers, self-help groups and producer organisations, enabling them to scale up without the constraints of conventional collateral-based lending.
The government hopes the mission will position Meghalaya as a leading producer of premium, organic and GI-certified Lakadong turmeric while expanding export opportunities and ensuring sustainable incomes for the state’s farmers.
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