Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: The Centre and the Meghalaya government officially kicked off the Meghalaya Lakadong Turmeric Integrated Development Mission this Tuesday. The project carries a budget of Rs 175.45 crore. It aims to turn the state’s specific turmeric variety into a global brand. Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma launched the initiative at Sanchar Bhavan in New Delhi.
This is a five-year push. It runs from 2026 to 2030. The mission targets an annual production of 49,400 metric tonnes of turmeric by 2030. Officials hope to raise total state output to roughly 60,000 metric tonnes. The plan expands cultivation from 2,500 hectares to 7,000 hectares, creating a total footprint of 9,581 hectares.
Funding comes from several sources. The Ministry of DoNER and the North Eastern Council are contributing Rs 87.62 crore for infrastructure. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare provides Rs 58.10 crore for certification and production. The Meghalaya government will add Rs 29.73 crore for working capital, branding, and traceability.
"Our northeastern states are no longer the periphery of the developmental paradigm but have now become the centre of India’s development," Scindia said during the launch. The mission aims to double farmer pay to Rs 80 per kg by 2030. It focuses on the West and East Jaintia Hills, targeting over 17,500 people.
Women will lead the effort. They are expected to hold 99 per cent of processing and institutional roles. The project includes building a Rs 41.69-crore organic processing and curcumin extraction facility in West Jaintia Hills. Plans also feature 28 integrated FPO packhouses and cluster warehouses. Support for planting materials totals Rs 35 crore.
The state wants to reach new markets. Japan, the United States, the European Union, and the Gulf are priority export zones. The launch event featured interactions with local growers, including Padma Shri awardee Trinity Saioo and farmer Jhanika Siangshai. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Timothy D. Shira also joined the event virtually to emphasize the mission's goal of creating 3,000 new livelihoods.
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