MUMBAI, 3 March 2026: The inaugural Meghalaya Spice Festival opened at Jio World Drive in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, marking a major national showcase of the State’s expanding organic spice economy.
In a strong market outreach initiative, a 140-member delegation of farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperative leaders and senior officials travelled from Meghalaya to engage directly with buyers, exporters and institutional partners from Mumbai and other commercial centres.
Strong Trade Engagement and Policy Dialogue
The opening day recorded robust footfall, sustained buyer–seller interactions and structured B2G meetings across spices and tourism sectors. A high-level forum on opportunities within Meghalaya’s organic spice ecosystem facilitated policy discussions, while live processing demonstrations, tasting counters and curated retail displays turned the venue into a dynamic marketplace.
Procurement discussions, export enquiries and partnership explorations continued throughout the day, reflecting strong commercial interest.
Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, highlighted the authenticity and ecological strength of the State’s farming practices, encouraging stakeholders to engage directly with producers.
Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Department, noted that Meghalaya’s turmeric is already reaching domestic markets as well as destinations in America, the Middle East and Europe, with ginger exports expanding to Singapore this year. He emphasised the State’s focus on sustainable buyer partnerships that ensure fair pricing for farmers.
Lakadong Turmeric Anchors Growth Story
A key highlight of the festival is GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric, recognised for its high curcumin content of 7–12%. Under the Lakadong Mission, cultivation has expanded to 2,190 hectares, supported by over 20 processing units benefiting more than 13,000 farmers.
Between 2022 and 2025, more than 420 metric tonnes of spices — including turmeric, ginger and black pepper — were traded across domestic and export markets.
Smti. N. Bhavani Sri, IAS, Secretary of the National Turmeric Board, described the festival as a structured platform to strengthen farmer collectivisation, branding and post-harvest systems. She noted that several exporters have begun sourcing Lakadong turmeric for high-value curcumin extracts and turmeric oil, positioning Meghalaya strongly within the global wellness market.
Agriculture Driving State Economic Growth
The festival reflects broader agricultural transformation underway in Meghalaya. Agriculture’s contribution to the State’s Gross State Domestic Product has more than doubled 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.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the State is positioning spices, tourism and the creative sector as integrated drivers of inclusive growth, with a vision of building a USD 16 billion economy by 2032.
Adding a cultural dimension, performances under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme complemented the trade engagement, showcasing the State’s creative economy alongside its agricultural strengths.
The Meghalaya Spice Festival continues at Jio World Drive, inviting retailers, exporters and consumers to explore the scale, quality and global ambition of Meghalaya’s organic spice ecosystem.
