SHILLONG, OCT 24: The North Eastern Council is pushing to scale up value addition for Meghalaya’s GI-tagged Lakadong Turmeric, with its Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla conducting an extensive field review of processing infrastructure in West Jaintia Hills on Friday.
Bhalla, along with NEC Director Sentitula, Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board Joint Managing Director Pranjal J. Dutta and district officials from Horticulture, Agriculture and MBMA, inspected three key sites under the Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project.
At Thadmuthlong C. Phramer village, the team reviewed the proposed Centralised Processing Unit. Officials informed that the layout for the Curcumin Extraction Plant has been finalised and that preparation of detailed plans and cost estimates is underway for floating tenders.
The focus of the visit, however, was on ensuring that new infrastructure does not meet the fate of existing units lying idle.
At Laskein village, Bhalla inspected the Bio-curcumin Extraction Unit operated by LIFE Spice Processing Cooperative Society Ltd., which is yet to begin extraction due to pending ISO certification.
“Plan for certifications along with construction. Otherwise machinery will remain idle even after installation,” Bhalla told the implementing team, directing them to secure all regulatory approvals in parallel with civil works.
Earlier, at Shangpung Pohshnong, the Secretary visited the processing unit run by Shangpung Farmers Union Collective Marketing Centre (CMC) and its collective farming model plot. Interacting with farmers, he was apprised of the acute shortage of manure affecting cultivation.
Farmers sought support for cattle procurement to address the gap. Bhalla said the demand does not fall under NEC’s mandate and suggested they approach the National Dairy Development Board for assistance under eligible schemes.
He also flagged gaps in market readiness.
At the CMC unit, Bhalla emphasised strict packaging standards, export compliance and traceability, advising the collective to introduce batch-coding and to brand its packaging materials including adhesive tapes and cartons.
“Export markets do not forgive poor packaging. Compliance and branding are critical for Lakadong to retain its premium,” he said.
The day also included an interaction with the Lakadong Turmeric Cooperative Union Ltd., which holds the GI tag for the spice. The Union apprised the Secretary of its ongoing collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and said exposure visits to Kandhamal, Bengaluru and Hyderabad had given them insights into advanced production, extraction and marketing practices.
According to the Union, the upcoming centralised extraction facility will significantly boost incomes by ensuring better price realisation at source.
The Marketing Board said the visit was aimed at ground-level assessment and direct engagement with farmer groups to strengthen processing, quality, market access and livelihoods linked to the high-curcumin turmeric.
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