Mission Golden Spice: Rs 175 Crore Scheme to Boost Lakadong Turmeric Cultivation and Exports

Key facts

• The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) launched the five-year 'Mission Golden Spice' on July 21, 2026, with a total outlay of Rs 175 crore.
• The scheme aims to nearly triple Lakadong turmeric cultivation area from 2,600 hectares to 7,000 hectares in Meghalaya.
• It is expected to benefit approximately 17,500 farmers, 99 percent of whom are women, and create 3,000 additional jobs.
• Lakadong turmeric has a curcumin content of 7 to 12 percent, nearly four times the global average, giving it a competitive edge.
• Funding is shared among the Meghalaya state government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the DoNER Ministry, with DoNER contributing 50 percent.
• The mission targets doubling farmer income from Rs 30-40 per kg to about Rs 80 per kg by 2030 and opening export markets in the US, EU, Japan, and the Gulf.