Lakadong turmeric has not only changed the life of award-winning turmeric farmer Trinity Saioo, but lately the wonder spice has spun its magic on a daily wage farmer who now owns her own farm.
Pdiangjingshai Hun Dkhar from Saphai village has been helping about 11 farmers associated with her in the village to double their income by planting Lakadong at her farm.
“I was a farmer and farming was my source of income during my early years. I grow potatoes, lettuce, ginger, turmeric and paddy and others but I was not earning well, until the Lakadong Mission was introduced,” she said.
Dkhar said with encouragement from officers she started growing Lakadong turmeric. From 530 kg in 2019-2020, Dkhar said in 2021 she could produce 1500 kg of the spice and now her production has gone up to two tons.
“I was the one who had to go to work in other people’s farm, now I call others to work at my farm. When I started growing Lakadong turmeric I hire labourers to carry them on their backs, slowly I started hiring pickup trucks and now the turmeric is being transported by four-wheel trucks,” she added.
Happy that the Lakadong Mission could change lives of farmers like her, Dkhar who attended the ongoing first Lakadong Festival at Pamsna Laskein said, “I am happy to be part of the festival as I can now share my success story with other farmers to inspire them.”
Meanwhile, the two-day festival which is being organised by the Directorate of Horticulture and Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) kick-started today with numerous activities.
Competitions such turmeric cutting, Lakadong traditional singing, Curcumin testing, Turmeric Show, Turmeric fancy show, Lakadong pounding exhibition and Lakadong food show were held on the first day of the festival.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is expected to attend the festival tomorrow to inaugurate the Lakadong Turmeric Collective Marketing Center (Synroplang Village Organisation) at Thadmuthlong A, Shangpung Pohshnong and the prime hub.
