News: Union DoNER Minister launched Mission Golden Spice, a ₹175.45 crore project.

About

• Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project
• Unlock the Economic Potential of India's Northeast (USP) under the Ashtalakshmi Strategy.
• It is a 5-year (2025–2030) initiative to develop a farm-to-global-market ecosystem for GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric of Meghalaya.

Implemented by:

• Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER)
• North Eastern Council (NEC)
• Government of Meghalaya

Objectives

• Double farmers' income from ₹30–40/kg to ₹80/kg by 2030.
• Reduce post-harvest losses.
• Develop processing and value addition.
• Make Lakadong turmeric a major export to US, EU, Japan, and Gulf countries.

Key Highlights

• Duration: 2025–2030 (2 phases)
• Phase I: Infrastructure, cold chains, processing.
• Phase II: Branding, commercialization, exports.
• Area Expansion: 2,500 ha → 7,000 ha.
• Target Production: 49,400 MT annually by 2030.
• Processing: Northeast's largest integrated organic processing & curcumin extraction plant.

Funding Pattern:

• MDoNER/NEC – 50%
• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare – 1%
• Government of Meghalaya – 16.9%

Women Empowerment:

• Benefits 17,500+ farming households.
• 99% of processing workforce are women.
• 3,000 additional jobs.

Technology

• Blockchain-based traceability to protect the GI tag.