Nestled in the enchanting landscapes of the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, the winding roads lead to villages that have become a hub for traders from both India and overseas, all drawn by the allure of the golden spice—turmeric. Beneath the veils of mist and clouds that often embrace these remote hamlets, the residents have been cultivating Lakadong turmeric for generations. This variety is renowned as the world’s finest, and today it’s not just thriving but expanding its reach across continents. At the heart of this transformation is Mission Lakadong, a pioneering endeavor that has not only revitalized the local economy but also propelled Meghalaya’s turmeric onto the international stage, reaching markets in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Five years have passed since the inception of Mission Lakadong, and the impact is palpable. Economic activities are bustling, trade is flourishing, and traditional farming practices are evolving to meet export standards. While states like Telangana and Maharashtra loom as significant competitors, Meghalaya’s Lakadong turmeric has proven its mettle in quality. Even though other regions might outproduce Meghalaya in sheer volume, when the yardstick shifts to quality, the scales tip dramatically. The West Jaintia Hills district is home to three turmeric varieties: Lachein, Lasyein, and the prized Lakadong. While the former two contain a modest four to five percent curcumin content, Lakadong boasts an exceptional average of seven percent curcumin—making it truly distinctive. This distinction is exclusive to this petite district, sandwiched between Bangladesh to the south and Assam to the north. All efforts to cultivate the same turmeric elsewhere have resulted in a marked drop in curcumin levels.
Champions of this turmeric renaissance are two fervent advocates who have ushered Meghalaya’s transformation from conception to sales. They have also illuminated new branding strategies and paved a path to overseas markets. In 2018, the Meghalaya government harnessed the region’s natural bounty and launched Mission Lakadong. Demanson Lyngdoh, a native of the West Jaintia Hills district, was appointed the nodal officer for this mission. Influential figures like Trinity Saioo, a Padma Shri awardee, and organizations like the Life Spice Processing Cooperative Society were enlisted to advance the dream of Meghalaya’s turmeric.
Today, Lyngdoh is synonymous with the horticulture department’s turmeric endeavors, particularly Lakadong. Shutting between Shillong and his office in Jowai, he carries with him the legends intertwined with Lakadong, intimately acquainting himself with every turmeric cultivator in the district. Conversing in their native Pnar tongue, Lyngdoh imparts knowledge on enhancing planting quality, optimizing post-harvest techniques, and refining the processing phase. He has witnessed the spice act as a catalyst for rural development, fostering economic prosperity, especially among women.
Merely a month before the academic year’s commencement in April, women in the district funded their children’s education and purchased schoolbooks by trading sliced and dried turmeric, as recounted by Lyngdoh. These grassroots transformations fuel his commitment to further community betterment. “I aspire for villagers to learn and progress to the utmost of their abilities,” he emphasizes, fully aware that governmental priorities can shift with each administration.
While the state government concentrates on expanding turmeric cultivation and productivity, veterans of Lakadong’s commercial cultivation are transitioning to the next phase—online marketing. Saioo, a schoolteacher and mother of six from Mulieh village, earned the Padma Shri in 2020 for mobilizing farmers to embrace the Lakadong variant. Her journey with Lakadong began in 2003, and she collaborated with the Spices Board to promote organic cultivation of the spice under the Union Ministry of Commerce. She exclaims, “It can triple farmers’ income compared to other varieties.” Saioo, instrumental in Mission Lakadong, shares her expertise and has been involved in marketing the product since 2018. Proudly, she speaks of how Lakadong has reached 10 states in India and even made its way to the United States.
Saioo’s efforts underscore the pivotal role of cooperative societies in this venture. Life Spice Processing Cooperative Society, founded in 2010, actively contributes to Mission Lakadong by expanding turmeric plantation areas. Operating 15 collective marketing centers (CMCs) with the cooperative, raw turmeric is procured and processed. The cooperative’s own research center experiments with processing techniques and component extraction, including curcumin. Within a decade, their economic successes enabled the cooperative to acquire their land, growing from 100 families to 1,000 families involved.
Teimonglang Shylla, the cooperative’s secretary, attests to Lakadong’s profound social impact. Education opportunities have expanded, and livelihoods transformed. With the cooperative’s presence, middlemen exploiting the uninformed have been marginalized. Mission Lakadong empowers farmers through seeds distribution, aiming to elevate them from small and marginal to progressive farmers.
The ultimate aim, Lyngdoh explains, is to optimize profits, which for Lakadong turmeric means processing. While raw turmeric sells for a modest Rs 30-35 per kg and dried pieces for up to Rs 160-180, the real value emerges when it’s sold as a powder, fetching Rs 300 per kg. Recognizing the need for a reliable sales channel, the government established 17 CMCs across the district. These centers facilitate washing, drying, and slicing of crops using basic machinery. Operating under elected village members, they store dried and powdered turmeric, simplifying the purchase process for buyers and traders.
Lyngdoh proudly reveals that one CMC is poised to welcome a European buyer in August, a testament to Lakadong’s growing international appeal. The Meghalaya government collaborates with cooperatives to strengthen the turmeric value chain, and organizations like Life Spice Processing Cooperative Society are crucial components of this journey.
Lakadong, once solely a spice, has emerged as a vehicle for economic empowerment and social change. Women are no longer confined to domestic roles; they have embraced purposeful roles in the turmeric movement. As they nurture their crops in the fertile fields of Meghalaya, they’re also sowing the seeds of transformation—economically, socially, and internationally.