Hidden in the green hills of Meghalaya grows a golden treasure loved across the world. Lakadong turmeric from Meghalaya is known for its deep colour, rich flavour, and powerful health benefits. For thousands of farming families, it is not just a spice, but a way of life. However, climate change is now putting this prized crop at serious risk, threatening both livelihoods and a centuries-old farming tradition.
Climate Change Threatens Meghalaya’s Golden Spice – Lakadong turmeric!
Lakadong turmeric is famous for its very high curcumin content, which gives it a bright yellow colour and strong medicinal value. Nearly 14,000 farmers across 43 villages grow this turmeric, and for many families, it is their main source of income.
Experts from the Meghalaya Climate Change Centre have identified Laskein in the West Jaintia Hills as one of the ten most climate-vulnerable blocks in the state. This region is a key turmeric-growing area.
Climate change is causing:
- Irregular rainfall, sometimes too much, sometimes too little
- Stronger and more frequent storms
- Rising insect and pest attacks
Because of these changes, turmeric yields in Laskein have dropped, making farming more difficult and uncertain.
Why is climate change hurting Lakadong turmeric?
Lakadong turmeric depends on stable weather, healthy soil, and balanced rainfall. When rains fail or arrive all at once, crops suffer. Warmer conditions also allow pests to spread faster, damaging plants before harvest. Government experts say these impacts are already happening, not something far in the future.
What’s being done to protect it?
To save this unique crop, experts and the Meghalaya government are working together on several solutions:
- Using climate-resilient farming practices
- Developing new turmeric varieties that resist diseases
- Improving water storage systems to handle droughts
- Strengthening soil health with organic methods
They have also launched Mission Lakadong, a project to raise awareness, improve quality, and boost the market value of this special turmeric.
Protecting Lakadong turmeric means protecting farmers, food heritage, and biodiversity. This golden spice is a reminder that climate change does not just affect weather, it affects people, culture, and livelihoods.
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