Shillong: In a first in the Northeast region, a Bio-Curcumin extraction unit was commissioned at Lashkein block in Meghalaya‘s West Jaintia Hills district, officials said on Thursday.
This facility is a major step forward for Lakadong turmeric, known for having the highest curcumin content, a bioactive compound known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Notably, Lakadong turmeric is grown by farmers in the Lakadong area of the West Jaintia Hills district.
The new unit, funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC) with an investment of Rs 1.50 crore, aims to boost the incomes of local farmers and open up new export opportunities for the region’s prized turmeric variety.
By processing raw turmeric into value-added products like powder, oleoresin, and biocurcumin capsules, the facility provides a sustainable livelihood to Lakadong turmeric farmers by adding value to their produce.
The unit has the capacity to process 200 kilograms of dry turmeric per day into oleoresin, powder, curcumin, and biocurcumin capsules.
The facility has created direct employment for 12 individuals and is supported by 15 Collective Marketing Centres (CMCs) with a total of 600 farmer members supplying raw and sliced Lakadong turmeric to the processing unit.
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According to officials, the annual income of turmeric farmers in the region has increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 in the past two years.
More than 100 metric tonnes of raw Lakadong turmeric have been processed annually into slices, powder, and oleoresin extract since operations began, they said.
