Mission Golden Spice for Meghalaya's Lakadong Turmeric Key Details

Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma have flagged off the "Mission Golden Spice – Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project" in Meghalaya. Valued at ₹175.45 crore, it's a five-year roadmap running from 2025 to 2030, split into two stages: first strengthening the value chain, then scaling it up. The project centers on Meghalaya's GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric and is being steered jointly by MDoNER and the North Eastern Council, with backing from the Agriculture, Food Processing, and Commerce ministries, plus APEDA, the Spices Board, ICAR, and NABARD.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Launches Mission "Golden Spice" 

Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said the ministry has worked with all eight northeastern states to carve out a distinct product identity for each, pushed forward "bottom up" rather than dictated from the top. He pointed to Lakadong turmeric's curcumin levels nearly four times the global average as the reason it's being positioned as Meghalaya's signature export. The goal, he said, is to nearly double what farmers earn, taking prices from ₹30–40 a kilo today to around ₹80 by 2030, while nearly tripling the area under cultivation, from 2,500 to 7,500 hectares.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Vision of an Atmanirbhar North East

Jyotiraditya M. Scindia tied the launch to PM Modi's "Ashtalakshmi" push, describing the northeast's shift from the margins to the mainstream of India's growth story over the last twelve years. He recalled Modi presenting Lakadong turmeric at the G7 Summit, where it drew notable attention from global leaders, a moment he said this mission must now build on through consistent quality, scale, and authenticity.