Mission Golden Spice aims to expand production, strengthen processing infrastructure, and boost farmer incomes through a women-led value chain.
21 July 2026, New Delhi: The Government of Meghalaya has launched Mission Golden Spice: Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project, a ₹175.45 crore initiative designed to establish the state as a global centre for premium, GI-tagged organic Lakadong turmeric. Announced in New Delhi, the five-year programme (2026–2030) focuses on expanding cultivation, increasing value addition, and strengthening export competitiveness while improving rural livelihoods.
Lakadong turmeric, known for its naturally high curcumin content of 7–12%, has emerged as one of Meghalaya’s most distinctive agricultural products. The mission targets the expansion of turmeric cultivation by an additional 7,000 hectares, taking the state’s total cultivated area to 9,581 hectares by 2030. Production is projected to increase by nearly 49,400 metric tonnes, with the programme expected to benefit more than 17,500 farming households and create over 3,000 livelihood opportunities.
Focus on Value Addition and Farmer Income
A key objective of the programme is to shift farmers from selling raw produce to participating in higher-value processing and branding activities. The government estimates that farmer earnings could rise from approximately ₹40,000 to ₹83,700 per 1,000 kg of turmeric through improved processing, market access and value addition.
The mission also includes the establishment of a ₹41.69 crore integrated organic turmeric processing and curcumin extraction facility in West Jaintia Hills with an annual processing capacity of 7,000 metric tonnes. The plant will produce curcumin extracts, oleoresins and premium turmeric powder for domestic and international markets. Supporting infrastructure will include 28 FPO packhouses, 28 cluster warehouses, seed banks, soil and curcumin testing laboratories, biochar units and renewable energy systems.
Women-Centred Agricultural Development
The initiative places strong emphasis on women’s participation, mandating that 99% of processing and institutional activities involve women farmers. Twenty-eight Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) will play a central role in aggregation, processing and marketing, supporting Meghalaya’s strategy of developing community-owned agricultural enterprises.
Multi-Ministerial Funding Support
Mission Golden Spice is being implemented through a collaborative funding model involving the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), the North Eastern Council, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and the Government of Meghalaya. MDoNER and NEC together are contributing ₹87.62 crore towards infrastructure development, while the Ministry of Agriculture is providing ₹58.10 crore to support production expansion and organic certification. The Government of Meghalaya will invest ₹29.73 crore for branding, FPO working capital, blockchain-based traceability and export systems.
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