Shillong: The Meghalaya government is set to organise the first-ever ‘Meghalaya Spice Festival’ from January 30 to February 1 at Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, with the objective of positioning the state as a leading source of premium, organic and GI-tagged spices.
The three-day festival seeks to showcase Meghalaya’s high-quality spices while strengthening market access, value addition and export linkages for farmers and producer enterprises. It will serve as a platform to connect farmer producer organisations (FPOs), self-help groups (SHGs), cooperatives and MSMEs from the state with buyers, exporters, retail chains, HoReCa players, nutraceutical brands and institutional buyers.
According to officials, the event is aimed at projecting Meghalaya as a reliable supplier of traceable, sustainably produced spices. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of the state’s leading spice products, including GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric, renowned for its high curcumin content, along with ginger, black pepper, bay leaves, cinnamon and indigenous spice blends. These products reflect the state’s emphasis on natural and organic farming, quality certification, branding and value addition.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said Meghalaya’s strength lies in its farmers and rich natural resources. He noted that initiatives such as the Meghalaya Spice Festival are creating direct market linkages for organic produce, enabling farmers and producer groups to access national and global platforms.
“Our vision is to position Meghalaya as a hub for high-value, organic and GI-tagged agricultural products, driven by quality, value addition and entrepreneurship,” he said.
The festival will feature B2B meetings, buyer–seller interactions, culinary demonstrations and farmer-led storytelling sessions. A dedicated Brand Meghalaya pavilion will highlight government initiatives in agriculture, livelihoods and rural enterprise development.
Agriculture Minister Timothy Shira described agriculture as the backbone of Meghalaya’s economy and said the festival would strengthen the entire value chain, from production and processing to branding and marketing. He added that by opening new markets and encouraging value addition, the government aims to enhance farmers’ income, improve economic security and build resilient agri-based enterprises.
Officials pointed out that hosting the festival in Mumbai, India’s commercial hub, would provide Meghalaya’s farmers with direct access to national and international spice trade networks, including processors, retailers and exporters.
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The initiative aligns with the state government’s goal of bringing one lakh hectares under organic cultivation by 2028 and developing sustainable spice value chains. Cultural performances under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (CM-MGMP) will add vibrancy to the event, which organisers said would promote rural enterprises, boost farmer incomes and establish Meghalaya as a key destination for premium spices.
