The Central Government launched Mission Golden Spice on 21 July 2026 with an outlay of ₹175.45 crore to promote Meghalaya’s GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric as a premium global spice and improve farmers’ income.
The five-year mission (2025–2030) was launched by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. It aims to strengthen the entire turmeric value chain, including cultivation, processing, branding, and exports.
Lakadong turmeric is known for its high curcumin content (7–10%), nearly four times the global average, making it one of the world’s finest turmeric varieties with strong export and nutraceutical potential.
The mission seeks to:
- Increase farmers’ income from ₹30–40/kg to about ₹80/kg by 2030.
- Expand cultivation area from 2,500 hectares to 7,500 hectares.
- Develop modern processing infrastructure, curcumin extraction facilities, branding, GI monetisation, and export market linkages.
