Concerns arise over counterfeit varieties of Lakadong turmeric

SHILLONG, Sep 11: The famous Lakadong turmeric from Meghalaya is gaining global acclaim for its medicinal properties, but with its increasing popularity, concerns over counterfeit varieties have surfaced.
Reports suggest that sales of Lakadong turmeric have dipped as farmers from other states are cultivating the variety using rhizomes taken from Meghalaya, marketing the produce under the tag name ‘Lakadong’.
However, steps have been taken to protect the integrity of the product, according to a government official.
Allaying apprehensions of counterfeit varieties of Lakadong turmeric, the official informed that the Lakadong Turmeric Cooperative Union Limited of Jowai, located in the West Jaintia Hills district, is now the registered proprietor of Lakadong Turmeric.
To further safeguard the product, the state government issued a notification restricting the sale of Lakadong turmeric seeds outside the Jaintia Hills region.
According to the official, the notification mandates that only genuine farmers from Jaintia Hills can market their produce as ‘Lakadong Turmeric’.
Additionally, awareness campaigns have been launched to educate local farmers about the benefits of the GI tag and to encourage them to register as authorised users.
It may be mentioned that in March this year, Lakadong turmeric received the prestigious GI-741 tag under India’s Geographical Indication Registry, a body under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Meghalaya’s production of Lakadong turmeric has steadily increased over the years, with a rise from 10,820 MT in FY2021-22 to 14,279 MT in FY2023-24. The state’s income from the Lakadong turmeric has also surged from Rs 20.2 crore in FY2021-22 to Rs 27 crore in FY2023-24.
Furthermore, over 18 metric tonnes of Lakadong turmeric has been exported to countries such as Russia, United Kingdom and Netherlands, generating trade worth Rs 30 lakh.  It was also informed that the state government is actively promoting the product through flagship initiatives like Mission Lakadong and the Cluster Development Program (CDP), aimed at strengthening the value chain.
The official said that in order to support local farmers, the government has also provided assistance with farm inputs, training, storage facilities, and curcumin content testing facilities.
It is pertinent to note that Lakadong turmeric has been showcased at various national and international events, including the Bharat Agri Conclave and the Pineapple Festival at Dilli Haat in the national capital.