Press Releases
Share
Department:
Information & Public Relations Department
Title: Hon'ble Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Inaugurates Northeast India’s Largest Organic Spice Processing Unit in Meghalaya
Press Release Number:
19/06/2026
Description:
Addressing farmers, community leaders and dignitaries at the inaugural programme, Smt. Sitharaman said Meghalaya possesses a unique natural advantage in an era when consumers across the world are increasingly demanding high-quality, sustainably produced and traceable agricultural products.
Expressing her pleasure at being in the fertile heartland of Ri-Bhoi, the Finance Minister noted that the people of Meghalaya had embraced the principles of sustainability long before it became a global agenda. Referring to Khasi wisdom that emphasises the consequences of human actions, she observed that this philosophy is particularly relevant to agriculture, where decisions regarding soil, water and farming practices determine long-term resilience and productivity.
She said Meghalaya’s deep-rooted culture of community stewardship and sustainable farming practices positions the State to emerge as a leader in premium organic agriculture. The new processing facility, she added, reflects the growing recognition that the future of agriculture lies in quality, sustainability, traceability and value addition.
The Finance Minister described the facility as the culmination of nearly a decade of institution-building efforts by the Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company and a strong example of how targeted investments, community participation and sustained support can create durable and inclusive development outcomes.
Developed with an investment of approximately ₹32 crore, the organically certified processing facility is designed to process more than 10,000 metric tonnes of high-value organic spices annually. Equipped with modern infrastructure including cold storage, dry storage, washing, drying and pulverising facilities, the unit will process crops such as ginger, turmeric, black pepper and chilli.
The facility is the first organically certified spice processing unit in Northeast India and is certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and EU Organic Standards, enabling direct access to premium domestic and international organic markets. It is expected to directly benefit approximately 5,500 organic farmers across Meghalaya and the wider Northeast region through enhanced value addition, reduced post-harvest losses, stronger aggregation and quality control mechanisms, and improved market linkages.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s premium agricultural products, Smt. Sitharaman noted that Lakadong turmeric, which received GI status in 2024, contains curcumin levels significantly higher than most commercially traded varieties. She also pointed to the growing reputation of Meghalaya’s ginger varieties for their low fibre content, superior quality and strong market potential
Expressing her pleasure at being in the fertile heartland of Ri-Bhoi, the Finance Minister noted that the people of Meghalaya had embraced the principles of sustainability long before it became a global agenda. Referring to Khasi wisdom that emphasises the consequences of human actions, she observed that this philosophy is particularly relevant to agriculture, where decisions regarding soil, water and farming practices determine long-term resilience and productivity.
She said Meghalaya’s deep-rooted culture of community stewardship and sustainable farming practices positions the State to emerge as a leader in premium organic agriculture. The new processing facility, she added, reflects the growing recognition that the future of agriculture lies in quality, sustainability, traceability and value addition.
The Finance Minister described the facility as the culmination of nearly a decade of institution-building efforts by the Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company and a strong example of how targeted investments, community participation and sustained support can create durable and inclusive development outcomes.
Developed with an investment of approximately ₹32 crore, the organically certified processing facility is designed to process more than 10,000 metric tonnes of high-value organic spices annually. Equipped with modern infrastructure including cold storage, dry storage, washing, drying and pulverising facilities, the unit will process crops such as ginger, turmeric, black pepper and chilli.
The facility is the first organically certified spice processing unit in Northeast India and is certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and EU Organic Standards, enabling direct access to premium domestic and international organic markets. It is expected to directly benefit approximately 5,500 organic farmers across Meghalaya and the wider Northeast region through enhanced value addition, reduced post-harvest losses, stronger aggregation and quality control mechanisms, and improved market linkages.
Highlighting Meghalaya’s premium agricultural products, Smt. Sitharaman noted that Lakadong turmeric, which received GI status in 2024, contains curcumin levels significantly higher than most commercially traded varieties. She also pointed to the growing reputation of Meghalaya’s ginger varieties for their low fibre content, superior quality and strong market potential
Released Date:
19 Jun 2026
pdf/382.44 KB
