New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) The Central government has unveiled a Rs 175.45‑crore integrated development mission to position Meghalaya’s Geographical Indication (GI)‑tagged Lakadong turmeric as a globally recognised premium product, while substantially enhancing farmers’ incomes and expanding cultivation in the state over the next five years, officials said on Tuesday.
The Meghalaya Lakadong Turmeric Integrated Development Mission was launched by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia at Sanchar Bhavan in the national capital in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and the state’s Agriculture Minister Timothy D. Shira.
The initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 17,500 farmers in West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills by strengthening every stage of the Lakadong turmeric value chain, from cultivation and quality certification to processing, branding, value addition, and exports.
The project is being jointly funded by the Ministry of DoNER, the North Eastern Council (NEC), the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and the Meghalaya government.
Describing the initiative as “Mission Golden Spice”, Scindia said it reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming the Northeast into a key driver of India’s economic growth by harnessing the region’s unique agricultural strengths. He said the northeastern states are no longer on the margins of India’s development journey but are now at the centre of the country’s growth story.
He added that the mission has been designed to strengthen post‑harvest infrastructure, increase processing capacity, minimise distress sales and enhance value addition, enabling farmers to secure better returns for their produce.
According to the targets set under the programme, farmers’ remuneration is expected to double to around Rs 80 per kg by 2030. The mission also seeks to increase the area under Lakadong turmeric cultivation from the present 2,500 hectares to nearly 7,000 hectares during the implementation period.
The programme further aims to establish Lakadong turmeric in premium international markets, including the United States, the European Union, Japan and Gulf countries.
Scindia also underlined the mission’s emphasis on women‑led development, noting that Lakadong turmeric received global attention after PM Modi showcased it during the G7 Summit.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the exceptional curcumin content and superior quality of Lakadong turmeric are the result of the unique soil composition and ecological conditions of the Jaintia Hills. He said the mission would create sustainable livelihood opportunities for thousands of farmers and entrepreneurs, particularly women involved in cultivation, processing and allied activities.
Sangma added that the state government has already put in place financial support mechanisms to provide working capital to farmers, self‑help groups and producer organisations without insisting on conventional banking collateral.
Officials said the mission targets annual production of nearly 49,400 metric tonnes of Lakadong turmeric by 2030, with women expected to account for almost 99 per cent of participation in processing and institutional activities.
–IANS
tdr/dan