Mumbai, February 28 : The first-ever Meghalaya Spice Festival was inaugurated today at Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, marking a significant national showcase of the State’s expanding organic spice economy .
In a strong statement of intent, a 140-member delegation comprising farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperative leaders and senior officials travelled from Meghalaya to directly engage with buyers from Mumbai and beyond .
The inaugural day witnessed strong footfall, sustained buyer–seller engagement and structured B2G meetings in spices and tourism. A high-level Forum on Opportunities in Meghalaya’s Organic Spice Ecosystem set the tone for policy dialogue, while live processing demonstrations, tasting counters and curated retail displays transformed the venue into an active marketplace. Procurement discussions, export enquiries and partnership explorations continued throughout the day, signalling serious commercial interest .
The Meghalaya Spice Festival aims to amplify the national and global market outreach of Meghalaya’s premium organic spices, and the inaugural edition itself has started attracting buyers from Mumbai and beyond. Hosting the festival in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, reflects the Government of Meghalaya’s deliberate push to position its spices in premium domestic and international markets while ensuring that growth translates into higher incomes for farmers. The festival has been conceived as a strategic market-linkage platform to directly connect the State’s farmers and spice entrepreneurs with national retailers, institutional buyers and global exporters .
Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, underscored the authenticity of the State’s agricultural base and urged industry stakeholders to engage directly with producers. “You come and interact with our entrepreneurs and farmers — you realise what authenticity is, what sincerity is, what quality is.” He further added, “Fundamentally, our farmers respect nature, they want to protect nature; that’s why we have the cleanest of the rivers, cleanest of the villages, and cleanest of the leadership.” .
Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya, highlighted the State’s expanding market footprint. Meghalaya’s turmeric, he noted, is already reaching domestic markets as well as markets in America, the Middle East and Europe, with ginger exports to Singapore this year. Emphasising sustainable partnerships, he stated, “We want to find buyers who believe in sustainable agriculture. We want buyers who take our products to the right markets and give the right price to our farmers.” .
Referring to the scale of participation, he asserted, “We have the best turmeric in the world. Wherever we go, this is a story we take.” He also informed that the State’s largest spice-processing unit is set to be inaugurated in the coming months, strengthening value addition and market readiness .
N. Bhavani Sri, IAS, Secretary, National Turmeric Board, described the festival as a structured effort to harness the North-East’s agri-ecosystem through farmer collectivisation, standardised branding and improved post-harvest systems. Referring to the buyer–seller meet held in Shillong following the Board’s inauguration, she noted that several exporters have since begun sourcing Lakadong turmeric from Meghalaya, including firms engaged in high-value curcumin extract and turmeric oil. She emphasised that Meghalaya is well positioned to meet organic standards and tap the growing global wellness market .
Blending commerce with culture, curated performances under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme (CM-MGMP) added a distinctive cultural dimension to the festival, showcasing the State’s creative economy alongside its agricultural strengths in the heart of Mumbai .
The festival reflects a broader agricultural transformation underway in the State. Agriculture’s contribution to Meghalaya’s Gross State Domestic Product has more than doubled over the past six years, from ₹5,977.91 crore in 2018–19 to ₹12,332.26 crore in 2024–25, driven by high-value crops and market-linked value chains .
GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric, recognised for its 7–12 per cent curcumin content, anchors this growth. Under the Lakadong Mission, cultivation has expanded to 2,190 hectares, supported by over 20 processing units benefiting more than 13,000 farmers. Ginger and black pepper production have also risen significantly, with over 420 metric tonnes of spices traded across domestic and export markets between 2022 and 2025 .
At the core of this expanding spice economy lies the vision of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, under whose leadership Meghalaya has emerged as one of the fastest-growing States in the country. As Meghalaya works towards becoming a USD 16 billion economy by 2032, spices, tourism and the creative sector are being positioned as integrated drivers of inclusive growth .
The Meghalaya Spice Festival continues at Jio World Drive from 1 PM to 10 PM until March 1, inviting industry stakeholders, retailers and consumers to experience the scale, quality and global ambition of Meghalaya’s organic spice ecosystem .
Dignitaries in attendance include Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya; Vikas Chandra Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department, Government of Maharashtra; Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya; N. Bhavani Sri, IAS, Secretary, National Turmeric Board; R. Nainamalai, IFS, Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya; and Biswajit Chakrabarty, Assistant Secretary General, FICCI, among other distinguished officials and stakeholders .
