Current Affairs - Agriculture

Meghalaya launched Mission Golden Spice on July 21, 2026, to promote the globally renowned GI-tagged Lakadong Turmeric, which is known for its high curcumin content of 7–10%, significantly higher than the global average. With an investment of ₹175.45 crore, the five-year mission (2025–2030) aims to strengthen the turmeric value chain, double farmers' income, expand cultivation from 2,500 hectares to 7,500 hectares, and establish the Northeast's largest integrated organic turmeric processing and curcumin extraction facility. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the North Eastern Council (NEC) under the "Ashtalakshmi" vision.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) celebrated its 98th Foundation Day in New Delhi by launching 43 improved crop varieties aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience. Along with these, ICAR introduced 17 advanced agricultural technologies and released 14 research publications. Key innovations included climate-resilient Basmati rice varieties, India's first indigenous African Swine Fever vaccine, the Digital Swine Disease Atlas, and an affordable cassava harvester. The organisation also signed 72 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 51 industry partners to promote technology commercialisation and support the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 through science-driven agricultural development.

Assam integrated tea and plantation class landholdings into its farmers’ registry portal on June 26, 2026, to improve access to government services for Small Tea Growers (STGs). The initiative provides each eligible grower with a unique Farmer ID linked to Aadhaar, land records, and personal details. This digital integration simplifies access to fertilisers, institutional credit, subsidies, crop insurance, and other government schemes while reducing repetitive paperwork. The programme officially covers over 1.33 lakh registered small tea growers and is expected to benefit more than 1.5 lakh growers and around six lakh individuals across the state.

Malwi Potato from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in June 2026, recognising its unique qualities and regional significance. The potato is known for its low sugar and low starch content, making it highly suitable for processing into chips and French fries without turning black or red during frying. It has also been selected as the One District, One Product (ODOP) crop for Indore by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Cultivated mainly during the Rabi season, it is grown across around 45,000 hectares, with the Mhow region serving as the primary cultivation and processing hub.

Meghalaya became home to the Northeast’s largest organic spice processing plant with its inauguration at Bhoirymbong in the Ri Bhoi District. The facility was established by the Eastern Ri Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company and has an annual processing capacity of 10,346 metric tonnes of spices. The project is expected to benefit around 5,500 organic farmers by improving value addition, market access, and income opportunities. Alongside the inauguration, foundation stones were laid for several infrastructure and development projects worth over ₹1,200 crore, including initiatives related to logistics, connectivity, ecotourism, sustainable livelihoods, and human capital development, supporting the region’s long-term economic growth.