The State government has warned of stern action under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 against individuals and companies involved in illegal growing or marketing of Lakadong turmeric from areas outside the designated geographical regions.
The famous Lakadong turmeric received its Geographical Indication (GI) tag in March 2024, restricting authentic production to East and West Jaintia Hills districts. The certification, numbered 741, was granted to the Lakadong Turmeric Cooperative Union Limited in Jowai.
In an order issued on October 30, Vijay Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary of Meghalaya Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, stated that growing Lakadong turmeric outside the designated geographical area to market and sell as ‘Lakadong Turmeric’ is illegal.
According to the order, the Agriculture Department has detected cases of turmeric grown outside Meghalaya being falsely branded as the premium Lakadong variety.
Such malpractices create customer confusion and tarnish the image, quality and unique characteristics of Lakadong turmeric, leading to financial losses for local farmers.
The order said that only registered proprietors and authorised users as defined in Chapter 1, Section 2 Sub Section 1 (n) and 1 (b) of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 shall have exclusive rights to the use of the GI tag of Lakadong turmeric.
“Growing of Lakadong turmeric outside the designated geographical area to further market and sale as Lakadong turmeric will be considered as infringement as defined in Sections 22.1 and 22.3 of the Act,”the order added.
It also said that action will be taken against persons or defaulters found to be falsifying or falsely applying the geographical indication as defined in Sections 38, 39, 40 of the Act.
Lakadong turmeric, cultivated in the Lakadong area of Jaintia Hills is globally recognised as one of the best varieties, featuring a curcumin content ranging from 6.8 to 7.5 per cent. Grown organically without the use of fertilisers, it exhibits a darker colour. Currently, around 14,000 farmers across 43 villages in the Lakadong area cultivate this turmeric variety on 1,753 hectares of land.
The Registrar of GI in Chennai officially awarded the GI tag number 741 to Lakadong turmeric for East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts on November 29, 2023.
The application for GI tag was made by Lakadong Turmeric Cooperative Union Limited, Jowai and facilitated by the Directorate of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The GI status accorded to Lakadong turmeric stands to safeguard traditional methods and knowledge, ensuring that only farmers and growers within the designated geographical area, utilising traditional methods, can use the GI tag.
