Shillong, June 19: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated Northeast India’s largest organic spice processing unit at Lumdaitkhla, Bhoirymbong in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district, marking a significant milestone for the region’s organic agriculture sector.
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| Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang inspect facilities at Northeast India’s largest organic spice processing unit during its inauguration at Lumdaitkhla, Bhoirymbong, in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district. ( Image: X/nsitharamanoffc) |
The facility was inaugurated in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. The processing unit has been established under the Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company Ltd. (FPC), a farmer-owned enterprise promoted under the Government of India’s Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER).
Officials described the facility as the first organically certified spice processing unit in Northeast India and a landmark institution that is expected to strengthen the region’s organic farming ecosystem and boost farmers’ incomes through value addition and improved market access.
The state-of-the-art unit has the capacity to process more than 10,000 metric tonnes of high-value organic spices annually, including ginger, turmeric, black pepper and chilli. It is certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) as well as European Union Organic Standards, enabling direct access to premium domestic and international organic markets.
Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic FPC has also developed a network of collection and aggregation centres, processing facilities, cold storage units, vermicompost centres, hiring facilities and transportation infrastructure to support organic farmers across the region.
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Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said Meghalaya’s Lakadong turmeric, ginger and black pepper have earned national and international recognition for their quality. He noted that the new processing plant would help bridge the gap between farm production and commercial markets, ensuring greater returns for farmers while creating new opportunities for economic growth and employment.
The facility is expected to directly benefit around 5,500 organic farmers across Meghalaya and the Northeast by enhancing processing and value addition, reducing post-harvest losses, strengthening quality control mechanisms and providing direct linkages with national and international buyers.
Besides improving price realisation for farmers by reducing dependence on intermediaries, the project is also expected to generate employment in processing, packaging and logistics while promoting exports of certified organic products from the Northeast. The initiative is seen as a major step towards strengthening sustainable agriculture and positioning the region as a leading hub for organic spice production and exports.
