Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently inaugurated the Organic Spice Industrial Unit, PRIME-HUB, at Bhoirymbong in Meghalaya. The facility is being positioned as the North East’s largest organic spice processing plant and is expected to strengthen Meghalaya’s agro-industrial and organic farming ecosystem.The project was developed with an investment of Rs 300 million (mn) and is designed to process over 10,000 metric tonnes of organic spices annually. It will directly benefit 5,500 farmers across 112 villages, supporting improved livelihoods, value addition and market access for local agricultural communities.The facility was implemented by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company and International Fund for Agricultural Development under the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project. MoUs were also signed between private partners and the Farmer Producer Company for a food processing unit and continued organic certification.Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the project marks a major development for the local farming community. He noted that 11 such functional units are currently operating in the state, collectively impacting around 55,000 people. The state government has been working to improve farmer incomes through financial support, training and better market linkages.Officials said the unit could help increase farmer incomes by up to 50 per cent while expanding access to global markets. With Meghalaya’s organic spice economy gaining premium value, the facility is expected to create a farmer-centric agricultural model for the North East.