Jaiñtia Hills to the G7: Can Meghalaya turn ‘Lakadong’ into a global brand?
The high-curcumin turmeric has gone from an obscure hill crop to a GI-tagged premium product showcased before world leaders.
A decade ago, few beyond Meghalaya were aware of Lakadong turmeric. Now, the golden spice from the Jaiñtia Hills has entered the global spotlight, gracing the G7 Summit. For the state, this represents more than a diplomatic triumph; it marks the evolution of a traditional crop into a premium agricultural product, bolstered by a burgeoning farmer community, processing facilities, and a growing export strategy.
The foundation of this transformation lies in the Jaiñtia Hills. Research by the ICAR Research Complex for the North Eastern Hill Region, along with analyses by the Meghalaya government and schemes under the National Horticulture Board’s cluster program, reveal that the region's warm, humid climate and abundant rainfall, coupled with predominantly acidic soils, create ideal conditions for Lakadong cultivation.
Studies pinpoint West Jaiñtia Hills as particularly conducive to growing this unique variety. The geography, thus, becomes integral to the product, not just turmeric from Meghalaya, but a cultivar whose identity, quality, and reputation are intrinsically linked to the landscape where its cultivation has persisted for generations.
This geographical advantage translates into unique qualities. Lakadong turmeric boasts a curcumin content ranging from 7% to 12%, setting it apart in the market. This compound, prized for its vibrant color and versatile applications in food, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, elevates Lakadong beyond conventional turmeric. The state government highlights Lakadong as Meghalaya's most distinctive agricultural product, with its high curcumin content offering significant potential in high-value markets.
The journey of Lakadong is embodied in the landscape where its cultivation has flourished for centuries. Today, more than 13,000 farmers across 124 villages are engaged in Lakadong farming, supported by 15 farmer collectives. The crop spans approximately 2,581 hectares. Government initiatives have evolved from focusing solely on cultivation to strengthening the entire value chain, including providing quality planting material, training farmers, facilitating aggregation, enhancing processing capabilities, securing finance, and establishing market links. Over 2,500 metric tonnes of high-quality planting material have been distributed to 7,345 farmers.
Farmers have experienced tangible benefits. Trinity Saioo, a Padma Shri awardee who has worked tirelessly to organize Lakadong growers and promote improved cultivation practices, has witnessed these changes firsthand. He notes the shift from chemical fertilizers and pesticides to organic farming methods using cow dung, goat manure, biofertilizers, and biopesticides.
Additionally, farmers have transitioned from traditional flat cultivation to raised-bed systems, which improve drainage, plant health, and productivity. The post-harvest process has also transformed, with the establishment of collection centers, washing units, slicing machines, and drying facilities, enabling farmers to sell their produce via organized channels.
The government is now concentrating on post-harvest activities. A major milestone was achieved in March 2024 with Lakadong turmeric's Geographical Indication (GI) registration under GI Application No. 741. This GI status not only acknowledges Lakadong as a distinctive product of Meghalaya but also provides protection against imitations in both domestic and international markets.
However, the challenge lies in establishing robust systems for testing, traceability, certification, and branding to ensure that buyers can identify authentic Lakadong.
Signs of market acceptance are emerging. Lakadong products in various forms, including sliced, dried, and powdered turmeric, are being marketed across Indian regions such as Punjab, Indore, Gandhinagar, and Jharkhand. More impressively, the spice has already found its way to international markets, with exports to the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Russia amounting to over 17.15 metric tonnes, valued at ₹29.75 lakh.
Although this figure is modest compared to Meghalaya’s ambitious export targets, it signifies a significant milestone. Lakadong has transcended its local speciality status and entered the international arena.
Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has hailed Lakadong as a transformative force for the region.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
