Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The Centre and Meghalaya government launched the Rs 175.45-crore Meghalaya Lakadong Turmeric Integrated Development Mission on Tuesday. Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma introduced the initiative at Sanchar Bhavan in New Delhi. The project, funded by the Ministry of DoNER, the North Eastern Council, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and the state, seeks to scale up production of the high-curcumin spice. It targets a yield of 49,400 metric tonnes by 2030. The mission covers East and West Jaintia Hills, aiming to benefit over 17,500 people.
Scindia labeled the effort Mission Golden Spice. He stated, "Our northeastern states are no longer the periphery of the developmental paradigm but have now become the centre of India’s development." Planners intend to double farmer pay to Rs 80 per kg by 2030. They will expand cultivation from 2,500 to 7,000 hectares. Women will handle 99 percent of processing and institutional tasks. The state already secured an organic spice processing plant last month.
Separately, Sangma met Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to demand support for stalled aviation projects. The state transferred 22 acres for Shillong Airport expansion. Environmental clearance is set. The runway must grow to host Airbus A320s. Meghalaya is moving the Umden Mission Village to clear flight paths, a task costing Rs 150 crore. State officials also want the AAI to run Tura’s Baljek Airport. The state offered an upfront payment of Rs 63.67 crore to speed this up under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
The government is hunting for more air links. They want nine new heliports plus two more under RCS-UDAN. They also proposed a water aerodrome at Umiam Lake after a successful 2024 seaplane test. Sangma noted, "These projects will strengthen regional connectivity, boost tourism and economic growth, and bring Meghalaya closer to the rest of the country."
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