Mission Golden Spice Launched

• 22 Jul 2026

On 21st July 2026, the Centre launched Mission Golden Spice, a ₹175.45-crore initiative to develop Meghalaya's GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric into a globally recognised premium spice.

Key Points

• About the Mission: The five-year mission (2025–2030) aims to strengthen the entire Lakadong turmeric value chain through cultivation, processing, branding and marketing.
• Objective: The initiative seeks to establish Meghalaya as the world's leading source of high-curcumin organic turmeric while increasing farmers' incomes and export competitiveness.
• Uniqueness of Lakadong Turmeric: It contains 7–10% curcumin, nearly four times the global average, making it one of the world's finest turmeric varieties with high nutraceutical value.
• Targets: The mission aims to increase cultivation from about 2,500 hectares to 7,500 hectares and nearly double farmers' income from ₹30–40/kg to around ₹80/kg by 2030.
• Value Chain Development: The project will establish modern processing facilities, curcumin extraction units, cold chain infrastructure, branding, GI monetisation and stronger domestic and export market linkages.