GUWAHATI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, June 19, inaugurated the Organic Spice Industrial Unit (PRIME-HUB), described as the Northeast’s largest organic spice processing plant, at Bhoirymbong in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district.
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The facility, developed at a cost of ₹30 crore, is designed to process more than 10,000 metric tonnes of organic spices annually and is expected to benefit around 5,500 farmers from 112 villages.
The inauguration took place during Sitharaman’s two-day visit to Meghalaya and was attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and senior state officials.
Speaking at the event, Sitharaman said the project demonstrates how targeted investments, institutional partnerships and financing support can contribute to rural development and agricultural value addition. Referring to the growing global demand for certified organic products, she noted that Meghalaya’s organic spice sector could benefit from increasing international market opportunities.
She also highlighted the role of farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in strengthening agricultural supply chains and improving market access for farmers.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the facility is part of the state government's efforts to improve agricultural incomes through financial assistance, training and better market linkages. He stated that Meghalaya currently has 11 similar functional units and said these initiatives have supported thousands of people engaged in farming and allied activities.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the processing unit would help farmers move beyond raw produce sales by enabling value addition and marketing of finished products. He noted that the state has over 4.5 lakh farming households and that the project is expected to contribute to rural employment and agricultural growth.
According to officials, the unit has been implemented through a partnership involving the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), the Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (Megha-LAMP).
During the event, several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between private sector partners and the farmer producer company. Representatives of the FPC also submitted a memorandum seeking support for a food processing unit and continued organic certification initiatives.
Dr Vijay Kumar D, Commissioner and Secretary of the Planning, Investment Promotion and Sustainable Development Department, said the facility is expected to improve farmer earnings through value addition and expanded access to domestic and international markets.
The commissioning of the plant comes as Meghalaya continues to promote organic farming and agro-processing as part of its broader agricultural development strategy. The facility is expected to strengthen the state’s spice value chain and enhance market opportunities for local farmers.