Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday inaugurated the Northeast’s largest organic spice processing plant in Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district, marking a significant step toward strengthening the region’s organic agriculture and value-added food processing sector.
The facility has been set up by the Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company and is designed with an annual processing capacity of around 10,000 metric tonnes of spices. It is expected to directly benefit nearly 5,500 organic farmers from the eastern parts of Ri Bhoi by improving access to organised processing infrastructure and better market opportunities.
The plant is equipped to handle key regional crops such as turmeric, black pepper, and a range of other spices that are widely cultivated in Meghalaya. Officials said the facility will help improve post-harvest processing, enhance product quality, and support farmers in securing higher returns through value addition and improved supply chain integration.
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The inauguration event was attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. During the programme, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with different companies aimed at strengthening market linkages and creating sustained business opportunities for farmers and producer groups across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Sitharaman praised the initiative and lauded the efforts of farmer producer organisations involved in the project. She expressed confidence that Ri Bhoi district could move beyond its Aspirational District status and emerge as a model for agricultural and rural development in the country, highlighting the scale and quality of progress achieved in the region.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma noted that crops like Lakadong turmeric, ginger, and black pepper from the state are already recognised for their quality across India and abroad. He said the new facility would further strengthen the organic farming ecosystem by improving value addition, expanding market access, and boosting rural livelihoods through sustainable economic growth.
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