SHILLONG, April 24 - Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad today launched the five-year �Mission Lakadong 2018-2023� programme, a convergent mission of the Directorate of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture and other departments of the State.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said Meghalaya�s climatic condition is conducive to cultivating a variety of spices, the prominent ones being turmeric, ginger, chilli, black pepper and bay leaf.
�Jaintia Hills district is home to one of the finest turmeric varieties in the world and the most famous one is Lakadong turmeric with a curcumin content of more than 7 per cent, which is highly sought after by the market,� the Governor added.
He further said that Lakadong turmeric is a rare type and has the potential to change the lives of countless farmers if its uniqueness is properly exploited. There is an established demand for the variety and buyers are willing to pay a premium for its quality.
Despite negative influence of middlemen, the Governor said that at least 1,000 farmers are engaged in the cultivation of Lakadong turmeric in Laskein and Thadlaskein blocks, covering an area of about 2,500 hectares.
He also said that the production of 10,000 metric tonnes of Lakadong turmeric per year is not sufficient to create an impact in the world market and encouraged the farmers to produce at least 50,000 metric tonnes per year and more than double the area. Mission Lakadong was launched to give an exclusive focus to Lakadong turmeric, and to put in place targeted interventions aimed at the improvement of livelihoods of turmeric farmers.
