India, March 2 -- The first-ever Meghalaya Spice Festival was inaugurated today at the Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, marking a significant national showcase of the States expanding organic spice economy. In a strong statement of intent, a 140-member delegation comprising farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperative leaders and senior officials travelled from Meghalaya to directly engage with buyers from Mumbai and beyond.
The inaugural day witnessed strong footfall, sustained buyerseller engagement and structured B2G meetings in spices and tourism. A high-level Forum on Opportunities in Meghalayas Organic Spice Ecosystem set the tone for policy dialogue, while live processing demonstrations, tasting counters and curated retail displays transformed the venue into an active marketplace. Procurement discussions, export enquiries and partnership explorations continued throughout the day, signalling serious commercial interest.
The Meghalaya Spice Festival aims to amplify the national and global market outreach of Meghalayas premium organic spices, and the Inaugural edition itself, has started attracting buyers from Mumbai and beyond. Hosting the festival in Mumbai, Indias commercial capital, reflects Government of Meghalayas deliberate push to position its spices in premium domestic and international markets while ensuring that growth translates into higher incomes for farmers. The festival thus has been conceived as a strategic market-linkage platform to directly connect the States farmers and spice entrepreneurs with national retailers, institutional buyers and global exporters.
Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, underscored the authenticity of the States agricultural base and urged industry stakeholders to engage directly with producers. You come and interact with our entrepreneurs and farmers- you realise what authenticity is, what sincerity is, what quality is. He further added, Fundamentally, our farmers respect nature, they want to protect nature; thats why we have the cleanest of the rivers, cleanest of the villages, and cleanest of the leadership.
Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya highlighted the States expanding market footprint. Meghalayas turmeric, he noted, is already reaching domestic markets as well as markets in America, the Middle East and Europe, with ginger exports to Singapore this year. Emphasising sustainable partnerships, he stated, We want to find buyers who believe in sustainable agriculture. We want buyers who take our products to the right markets and give the right price to our farmers.
Referring to the scale of participation, he asserted, We have the best turmeric in the world. Wherever we go, this is a story we take. He also informed that the States largest spice-processing unit is set to be inaugurated in the coming months, strengthening value addition and market readiness.
Smti. N. Bhavani Sri, IAS, Secretary, National Turmeric Board, described the festival as a structured effort to harness the North-Easts agri-ecosystem through farmer collectivisation, standardised branding and improved post-harvest systems. Referring to the buyerseller meet held in Shillong, following the Boards inauguration, she noted that several exporters have since begun sourcing Lakadong turmeric from Meghalaya, including firms engaged in high-value curcumin extract and turmeric oil. She emphasised that Meghalaya is well positioned to meet organic standards and tap the growing global wellness market.
Blending commerce with culture, curated performances under the Chief Ministers Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme (CM-MGMP) added a distinctive cultural dimension to the festival, showcasing the States creative economy alongside its agricultural strengths in the heart of Mumbai.
The festival reflects a broader agricultural transformation underway in the State. Agricultures contribution to Meghalayas Gross State Domestic Product has more than doubled over the past six years, from 5,977.91 crore in 201819 to 12,332.26 crore in 202425, driven by high-value crops and market-linked value chains.
GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric, recognised for its 712 per cent curcumin content, anchors this growth. Under the Lakadong Mission, cultivation has expanded to 2,190 hectares, supported by over 20 processing units benefiting more than 13,000 farmers. Ginger and black pepper production have also risen significantly, with over 420 metric tonnes of spices traded across domestic and export markets between 2022 and 2025.
At the core of this expanding spice economy lies the vision of Honble Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma, under whose leadership Meghalaya has emerged as one of the fastest-growing States in the country. As Meghalaya works towards becoming a USD 16 billion economy by 2032, spices, tourism and the creative sector are being positioned as integrated drivers of inclusive growth.
The Meghalaya Spice Festival continues at Jio World Drive from 1 PM to 10 PM until March 1, inviting industry stakeholders, retailers and consumers to experience the scale, quality and global ambition of Meghalayas organic spice ecosystem.
Dignitaries in attendance include Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya; Shri Vikas Chandra Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department, Government of Maharashtra; Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya; Smti. N. Bhavani Sri, IAS, Secretary, National Turmeric Board; Shri R. Nainamalai, IFS, Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya; and Shri Biswajit Chakrabarty, Assistant Secretary General, FICCI, among other distinguished officials and stakeholders.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from FoodTechBiz.