New Delhi, July 21 -- Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday launched "Mission Golden Spice," a Rs 175-crore, five-year initiative aimed at branding Lakadong turmeric as Meghalaya's flagship export product.

Lakadong turmeric, grown primarily in the West and East Jaintia Hills districts, is currently cultivated on about 2,600 hectares, yielding roughly 10,000 metric tonnes annually.

Under the mission, the government aims to nearly triple the cultivation area to 7,000 hectares, a move officials say will benefit around 17,500 farmers, 99 percent of whom are women, while creating 3,000 additional jobs across the state.

Speaking at the launch, Scindia framed the initiative within the P...