Shillong, June 19 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said Meghalaya’s deep‑rooted culture of sustainability and community stewardship places the state in a unique position to emerge as a national leader in premium organic agriculture, as she inaugurated Northeast India’s largest organic spice processing unit in Ri‑Bhoi district.

The Rs 32‑crore facility, established by the Eastern Ri‑Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company (FPC), is expected to directly benefit around 5,500 organic farmers across Meghalaya and the wider Northeast by boosting value addition, reducing post‑harvest losses and strengthening access to domestic and international markets.

Inaugurating the organically certified processing unit in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Sitharaman said the future of agriculture belongs to those who produce “better, cleaner, safer, more traceable and more sustainable products” rather than simply increasing output.

Addressing farmers and community leaders, the Finance Minister noted that Meghalaya had embraced sustainability long before it became a global priority. Referring to traditional Khasi wisdom that emphasises accountability for human actions, she said decisions related to soil, water and farming practices are crucial for long‑term agricultural resilience.

“Consumers across the world are increasingly demanding high‑quality, sustainably produced and traceable agricultural products. Meghalaya has a natural advantage in this emerging global market,” Sitharaman said.

The minister described the facility as the culmination of nearly a decade of institution‑building efforts by the farmer-producer company and a model of how community participation, targeted investments and government support can generate inclusive growth.

The processing unit, the first organically certified spice‑processing facility in the Northeast, is equipped with cold storage, dry storage, washing, drying and pulverising infrastructure. It will process more than 10,000 metric tonnes of high‑value organic spices annually, including ginger, turmeric, black pepper and chilli. Certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and EU Organic Standards, the facility is expected to provide direct access to premium global markets.

Highlighting Meghalaya’s agricultural strengths, Sitharaman cited the globally acclaimed Lakadong turmeric, which received Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2024, and the state’s high‑quality low‑fibre ginger varieties.

She stressed that the region should move beyond exporting raw produce and focus instead on branded, value‑added products.

“Processing, branding, packaging and certification are essential to ensure that more value, jobs and livelihoods remain within the region,” she said.

Chief Minister Sangma termed the project a “game‑changing initiative” and said the state has operationalised 11 processing units benefiting nearly 55,000 farmers and their families. He added that Meghalaya is steadily building the infrastructure needed to connect farmers with larger markets and improve rural incomes.

–IANS

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