Jowai, October 23: North Eastern Council (NEC) Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla on Friday visited West Jaintia Hills district to review the progress of activities under the Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project, aimed at strengthening processing infrastructure, value addition and market opportunities for turmeric growers in Meghalaya.
The NEC Secretary was accompanied by Dr. Sentitula, IFS, Director (Tourism and Industries), NEC; Pranjal J. Dutta, Joint Managing Director of the Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB); and officials from the District Horticulture Office, District Agriculture Office and Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA).
During the visit, Bhalla inspected the proposed site for the construction of a Centralised Processing Unit at Thadmuthlong C. Phramer village. The implementing team presented the layout of the proposed Curcumin Extraction Plant and briefed him on the progress of preparatory activities. Officials informed that civil engineers and technical personnel were currently preparing the plans and cost estimates, following which the tendering process would be initiated.
The NEC Secretary also interacted with members of the Lakadong Turmeric Cooperative Union Ltd., the proprietor of the Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Lakadong Turmeric. The Union apprised him of its collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in implementing the project.
Members also shared their experiences from exposure visits to Kandhamal, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where they gained practical knowledge of turmeric production technologies, extraction units, soilless cultivation techniques and market linkages. The Union expressed confidence that the proposed Curcumin Extraction Unit would strengthen local value addition, help farmers secure better prices for Lakadong Turmeric and improve livelihood opportunities for farming communities across the Jaintia region.
Bhalla subsequently visited the existing Lakadong Turmeric processing unit operated by the Shangpung Farmers Union Collective Marketing Centre (CMC) at Shangpung Pohshnong. During his interaction with CMC members and farmers from neighbouring villages, the farmers highlighted several challenges associated with turmeric cultivation, particularly the shortage of manure. They sought assistance in procuring cattle to address the problem. Responding to their request, the NEC Secretary clarified that such assistance falls outside the mandate of the NEC and suggested that farmers explore relevant support schemes under the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), subject to applicable provisions and eligibility criteria.
While reviewing the operations of the Collective Marketing Centre, Bhalla stressed the importance of maintaining packaging quality and complying with prescribed export requirements to minimise the risk of product rejection. He also advised the introduction of a batch-coding system to improve product traceability and ensure efficient business operations. Additionally, he recommended branding adhesive tapes and carton boxes with the CMC’s identity to strengthen brand visibility and market recognition. The Secretary also inspected the CMC’s collective farming model plot, where he reviewed ongoing Lakadong Turmeric cultivation activities.
As part of the visit, Bhalla inspected the Bio-curcumin Extraction Unit operated by LIFE Spice Processing Cooperative Society Ltd. at Laskein village. The unit is yet to commence curcumin extraction operations as it awaits the required ISO certification. Following the inspection, the Secretary advised the implementing team to draw lessons from the existing facility while planning and executing similar projects. He emphasised the importance of securing all necessary certifications, approvals and regulatory compliances alongside infrastructure development and machinery installation. Bhalla observed that advance planning would help ensure the timely operationalisation of processing units and prevent machinery from remaining idle after installation.
The visit provided an opportunity to assess the project’s progress on the ground, interact directly with farmer collectives and identify areas requiring further attention. The initiative seeks to strengthen Lakadong Turmeric processing infrastructure, improve product quality, enhance market access and promote value addition, ultimately benefiting turmeric growers and farming communities in Meghalaya.
