Mission Golden Spice Launched to Build Meghalaya’s Lakadong Turmeric into a Global Premium Brand

The Union Government has launched the ₹175.45-crore Mission Golden Spice to transform Meghalaya’s GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric into a globally competitive premium product while strengthening cultivation, processing, branding and market access for farmers.

Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched the mission in New Delhi on July 21, 2026, alongside Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. Officially named the Mission Golden Spice–Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project, the initiative will be anchored by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and the North Eastern Council.

The mission has been structured as a five-year programme covering the period from 2025 to 2030. Its first phase will focus on strengthening the existing value chain, while the second phase will expand cultivation, processing capacity and market reach. The project forms part of the Ministry’s initiative to unlock the economic potential of distinctive products associated with the northeastern states.

Lakadong turmeric is primarily cultivated in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills and is recognised for its naturally high curcumin content. According to the government, the variety contains around 7 to 10 per cent curcumin, nearly four times the global average. Curcumin is the principal natural compound responsible for turmeric’s characteristic colour and many of its commercial applications in the food, wellness, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical industries.

The high curcumin concentration, distinctive aroma and association with Meghalaya’s agro-climatic conditions give Lakadong turmeric significant potential as a premium organic product. The mission seeks to position it as a flagship “Brand North East” commodity capable of commanding higher prices in domestic and international markets.

A central objective of Mission Golden Spice is to improve the earnings received by turmeric growers. The government aims to increase farmers’ remuneration from the present range of approximately ₹30–40 per kilogram to nearly ₹80 per kilogram by 2030. The area under Lakadong turmeric cultivation is also expected to rise from around 2,500 hectares to nearly 7,500 hectares.

The project will develop an integrated farm-to-global-market ecosystem covering quality planting material, scientific cultivation, farmer institutions, collection centres, post-harvest management, processing, curcumin extraction, packaging, certification, branding and export promotion. The government expects the initiative to create more than 3,000 women-led employment opportunities and support the development of a ₹100-crore Lakadong turmeric economy by the financial year 2028–29.

Women play a major role in the cultivation, processing and preservation of Lakadong turmeric in Meghalaya. Mission Golden Spice intends to place women farmers and entrepreneurs at the centre of producer organisations and value-chain enterprises, creating opportunities in processing, packaging, quality testing, marketing and other forms of value addition.

The mission will bring together several government departments and specialised agencies. Participating institutions include the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Food Processing Industries and Commerce, along with APEDA, the Spices Board, National Turmeric Board, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, MeitY, NABARD, Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium and the Government of Meghalaya.

This convergence-based approach is intended to address the structural challenges that have prevented small farmers from capturing the full commercial value of Lakadong turmeric. These include inadequate processing facilities, post-harvest losses, limited cold-chain infrastructure, weak branding, fragmented market connections and insufficient systems for monetising the product’s Geographical Indication status.

The programme also proposes the establishment of a major integrated organic turmeric-processing and curcumin-extraction facility in the Northeast. Greater local processing capacity would allow farmers and producer organisations to move beyond the sale of raw or semi-processed turmeric and participate in higher-value markets for turmeric powder, extracts, nutraceutical ingredients and branded consumer products.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the initiative builds on years of work by Meghalaya’s farmers, state officials and agricultural institutions. He highlighted the close connection between Lakadong turmeric and the soil and climatic conditions of Meghalaya, noting that attempts to cultivate the variety elsewhere had produced lower curcumin levels. The state government also plans to explore similar value-chain models for products such as pineapple, ginger, jackfruit, honey and mushrooms.

Mission Golden Spice represents an effort to convert the natural quality and cultural heritage of Lakadong turmeric into lasting economic value. By combining cultivation expansion with processing, branding and international market access, the project aims to establish Meghalaya as a leading global source of high-curcumin organic turmeric while creating stronger incomes and livelihood opportunities for farmers.

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REFERENCES

Press Information Bureau, Government of India. “Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Launches Mission ‘Golden Spice’ for Meghalaya’s Lakadong Turmeric.” Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, 21 July 2026.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2287186&lang=1&reg=48

DD News. “Jyotiraditya Scindia Launches Rs 175.45-Crore ‘Mission Golden Spice’ to Transform Meghalaya’s Lakadong Turmeric into Global Premium Brand.” 21 July 2026.
https://ddnews.gov.in/en/jyotiraditya-scindia-launches-rs-175-45-crore-mission-golden-spice-to-transform-meghalayas-lakadong-turmeric-into-global-premium-brand/

News on AIR. “Lakadong Turmeric Mission Golden Spice Launched for Farm-to-Global-Market Ecosystem.” Akashvani, 21 July 2026.
https://newsonair.gov.in/lakadong-turmeric-mission-golden-spice-launched-for-farm-to-global-market-ecosystem/

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