Mission Golden Spice Launched for Lakadong Turmeric

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The **Union DoNER Minister** recently launched **Mission Golden Spice** with a total budget of **₹175.45 crore**.
This **5-year** initiative builds a farm-to-global-market ecosystem for **Meghalaya's** **GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric**.

Its official title is the **Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project**, running from **2025** to **2030**.
It functions as part of the central government's **USP initiative** under the broader **Ashtalakshmi strategy**.

The **Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER)** and the **North Eastern Council (NEC)** serve as anchor bodies.
The **Government of Meghalaya** is implementing the project across the state.

The mission aims to double turmeric farmers' earnings from **₹30-40/kg** to **₹80/kg** by **2030**.
It works to minimize post-harvest losses and establish modern processing facilities in the region.
It aims to position **Lakadong turmeric** as a key export item in the **US**, **EU**, **Japan**, and **Gulf countries**.

**Phase 1** focuses on value chain infrastructure, cold chains, and processing, while **Phase 2** targets commercial expansion and exports.
The cultivated area will grow from **2,500 hectares** to **7,000 hectares** to reach an annual output of **49,400 metric tonnes** by **2030**.
Funding is split between **MDoNER/NEC (50%)**, **Ministry of Agriculture (33.1%)**, and **Government of Meghalaya (16.9%)**.
It builds the region's largest organic processing facility in **Meghalaya** to extract high-value **curcumin** locally.
The project supports over **17,500** households in **West and East Jaintia Hills**, where **women** make up **99%** of processing workers.
It incorporates **blockchain tools** and digital tracking to safeguard the **GI status** against counterfeit products.