Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, inaugurates ‘Organic Spice Industrial Unit’ in Bhoirymbong of Meghalaya on Friday.

Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, inaugurated an ‘Organic Spice Industrial Unit (PRIME-HUB), North East’s largest organic spice processing plant in Bhoirymbong of Meghalaya on Friday.

Developed at an investment of ₹30 crore to significantly scale up production, the unit is designed to process over 10,000 tonnes of organic spices annually. The unit is expected to help 5,500 farmers across 112 villages to support sustainable livelihoods.

The unit is implemented by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company (FPC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development under the aegis of the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project.

Commanding premium

In her keynote address, Sitharaman said the exceptional standard and quality of processes established in Meghalaya stand out while empowering the Eastern Ri-Bhoi FPC to set a new benchmark for the entire country to match.

She emphasised that this milestone bridges distances and demonstrates how targeted investments, institutional partnerships, and convergence financing can drive real grass-roots development. Pointing out that Meghalaya’s organic spice economy commands a premium because its trust is deeply rooted in nature, community, and ecological knowledge, she highlighted that as the certified global ginger market approaches $7 billion by 2030, Meghalaya is precisely the highly valued origin the world seeks.

“In this emerging premium economy, Meghalaya enjoys a natural advantage that many regions of the world are still trying to create,” she said.

Conrad K Sangma, Meghalaya Chief Minister -- who had foundation stone for the project on August 9, 2024 -- emphasized that over the last eight years, there has been a dedicated endeavour to make changes in farmers’ lives by elevating existing practices through vital financial support, expert training, and enhanced market accessibility.

Illustrating the success of these initiatives, he announced that there are 11 such functional units in Meghalaya currently. With the understanding that each unit on average supports 5,000 individuals, a remarkable 55,000 lives have been impacted.

Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, said the state is home to over 4.5 lakh farming households. The new facility, equipped with a 10,000-tonne capacity, is designed to directly empower local agricultural communities by enabling them to process and effectively market their finished products. This milestone reflects a strong commitment to enhancing rural livelihoods, creating local employment, and driving broader agricultural prosperity throughout the region, he said.

Vijay Kumar D, Commissioner and Secretary, Planning, Investment Promotion, and Sustainable Development Department, Meghalaya, said the unit would empower farmers by boosting their incomes by up to 50 per cent and expanding global market access. The project’s unique community public-private partnership stands as a benchmark for cooperative-led, export-driven agricultural growth, he said.

Prem Singh Tamang, Sikkim Chief Minister, attended the event.

Published on June 19, 2026