India’s Agri Future takes Centre-Stage in Meghalaya, as Shillong hosts First Northeast India Organic Week

Meghalaya targets 1 lakh hectares of certified organic land for its agri-produce
 
Shillong, November 29, 2025: Positioning Meghalaya and the Northeast India as a formidable contender in the global organic set-up, Government of Meghalaya, in a strategic partnership with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM-Organics Asia), today successfully inaugurated the 1st Northeast India Organic Week here in Shillong.
 
The inauguration marks a significant milestone not only for the region’s agricultural sector but also uniquely converges two major international initiatives on a single forum; the APEDA International Buyer-Seller Meet and the 4th IFOAM World Organic Youth Summit.
 
APEDA has been a long-standing partner in strengthening Meghalaya’s organic value chain. Through close collaboration with the state government, APEDA has helped Meghalaya’s high-value organic and natural produce such as ginger, turmeric, fresh fruits, and niche spices enter new and emerging markets in the Middle East. These efforts have enabled stronger market linkages, higher value realisation for farmers, and enhanced visibility for the state’s organic products.
 
Hosting delegates, importers, and representatives from 13 countries including Malaysia, Taiwan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Indonesia and other countries, positioning Meghalaya as the gateway for global organic trade and youth led development and innovation.
 
The formal session commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Saswati Bose, General Manager, APEDA, set the tone for the event characterizing the occasion as a "significant milestone for India and the global organic community.” Highlighting the region's unique strengths, she asserted that “Meghalaya, with its rich biodiversity and strong community-driven farming systems, is an ideal state for advancing organic agriculture.”
 
Representing the host state, Dr. Vijay Kumar D., Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, highlighted the state's impressive economic trajectory, noting “Meghalaya is the second fastest growing state in the country behind Tamil Nadu and the only state with 10% growth over the last four years post-COVID, a surge driven primarily by the agriculture sector.”
 
He outlined Chief Minister’s ambitious vision, stating, “We should try to more than double farmers' income by 2028.” To achieve this, the state has implemented a “robust hub and spoke model” connecting village-level Collective Marketing Centres to large “Prime Hubs”," including a new ginger processing facility established with an investment of “25 crores”, which he describes as the "largest organic processing unit for spices in the Northeastern region.”
 
He emphasized the value of local produce, specifically Lakadong turmeric, calling it the “world's best turmeric” with a curcumin content reaching up to 13%. He also mentioned about the bio-curcumin tablets, explaining that the state is setting up an extraction unit to produce these high-value supplements from Lakadong turmeric. He reaffirmed the state's aggressive targets, declaring a goal to do 1 lakh hectares which is 25% of the cultivating area of the state as certified organic by 2028. Furthermore, he highlighted climate action initiatives like “Green Meghalaya”.
 
He also highlighted Meghalaya’s abundant bamboo reserves that offer a sustainable solution for the region’s naturally acidic soils. Transforming bamboo into high-quality biochar enhancing soil health by improving nutrient retention, structure, and microbial activity while neutralizing acidity.
 
Abhishek Dev, IAS, Chairman, APEDA, addressed the gathering stating, “Meghalaya has a significant export potential in organic.” He emphasized the necessity of partnership with state governments to ensure “last mile connectivity with the all the stakeholders in the value chain”. Acknowledging international partners, he expresses a desire to significantly increase our collaboration with IFOAMto provide Indian producers with an international stage to showcase their produce. Regarding regulatory integrity, he asserted that APEDA is working hard to ensure the system of organic certification should be fully credible highlighting the release of the 8th edition of the National Programme for Organic Production.
 
Jennifer Chang, Executive Director, IFOAM Asia, in her keynote address, reiterated that the event marks a significant milestone in the work of IFOAM Organics Asia in India and South Asia. Reflecting on her time in Meghalaya she added, “We had a very inspirational start yesterday with a visit to a Khasi Mandarin organic farm in the beautiful hills of Mawphu. These farmers are not just providers of food, but truly the stewards of nature.” She added, “And what we saw yesterday is a testament of what Northeast India is, you have a unique agro-climatic condition enrich biodiversity, and this region is organic by default."
 
Brendan Hoare, Adviser, IFOAM Asia, emphasized the organic movement is a borderless, collective mission.  The first Northeast Organic Week serves as more than an exchange of knowledge; it is a catalyst for lasting connections and global sustainability. He urged everyone to commit for a future of cooperation and innovation, ensuring that the efforts today shape policies, markets, and communities worldwide.
 
Following the inaugural sessions, the esteemed dignitaries officially inaugurated the Exhibition Area, showcasing the finest certified organic products from FPOs, cooperatives, and enterprises across the Northeast. The area presented a dedicated Meghalaya Organic Pavilion, featuring stalls from Meghalaya Collectives, Meghalayan Age, PRIME and kiosks of APEDA, Directorate of Food Processing, National Co-operative Exports Limited, MoVCDNE, Tea Board India and more.
 
The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Saloni Verma, IAS, Deputy Secretary, Department of Agriculture.
 
A major highlight of the inaugural session was the presentation by Priyanka Uday, Associate Director, (CRISIL), on “Meghalaya-A growing powerhouse in India’s Organic Sector”, providing insights into Meghalaya as an emerging agricultural hub, leveraging its "Organic by Default" status with near-zero synthetic fertilizer usage and a significant expansion in certified organic land. The state’s horticulture landscape is witnessing robust growth: organic ginger exports to Dubai have reached 15 MT (7% CAGR) in 2019-23 cycle, while black pepper sales to have doubled. Driven by initiatives from bodies like the Jirang FPC, distinctive produce such as GI-tagged Mandarins has successfully entered the Gulf market through the Lulu Group, showcasing the immense global potential of Northeast India.
 
The afternoon sessions were dedicated to the Buyer Seller Meet and the Sensitisation and Capacity Building Programme on NPOP 8th Edition, Regulation & Labelling Requirement under NPOP.
 
The 1st Northeast India Organic Week continues through December 1, serving as a catalyst for youth-led agricultural innovation and creating a robust ecosystem for organic trade. By bringing policymakers, global buyers, and youth innovators together, Meghalaya has firmly established itself as a national and regional model in the organic agriculture landscape.