Lakadong turmeric from Meghalaya reaches Delhi
Baansera Park in Delhi is set to harvest its first crop of Lakadong turmeric, a rare and highly valued variety from Meghalaya known for its high curcumin content. The Delhi Development Authority’s pilot project has been a success, with plans to expand turmeric cultivation across the city’s green spaces, promoting sustainable agriculture and wellness.
In a delightful twist of agricultural innovation, the verdant Baansera Park, perched on the banks of the Yamuna River, is about to unveil its first crop of the illustrious ‘Lakadong turmeric’. A rare and highly prized variety native to Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills, this golden spice is about to spice up the national capital—quite literally—bringing both a splash of colour and a dash of medicinal magic to the people of Delhi.
For the uninitiated, Lakadong turmeric is not your run-of-the-mill spice. With curcumin content of over 7%—a far cry from the 2-3% found in its more common cousins—this turmeric boasts a dazzlingly bright yellow hue, a distinct earthy aroma, and a flavour that’s positively pungent. It’s the pride of Meghalaya, where it’s cultivated in the sleepy village of Lakadong, tucked away in the foothills of the West Jaintia Hills. And now, thanks to a clever initiative by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), it’s ready to make its debut on Delhi’s culinary and wellness scene.
Word on the street (or rather, the banks of the Yamuna) is that this project was kicked off four months ago at the behest of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Under his direction, the DDA embarked on a trial run, planting Lakadong turmeric in the bamboo groves of Baansera Park, and—lo and behold—it’s been a roaring success, with an impressive 80% growth rate. Now that’s what you call a fruitful endeavour!
The pilot project has been such a triumph that plans are afoot to replicate the turmeric plantation across other green spaces in Delhi. It seems the DDA is on a bit of a botanical roll. You see, they’ve already had some smashing successes with the likes of chandan, chinar, cherry blossoms, water apples, green apples, and even grapes. But this Lakadong turmeric could be the crown jewel in their sustainable agriculture portfolio.
One of the secrets to this success is the bamboo groves of Baansera, which provide an ideal environment for the turmeric to thrive. Turmeric, as it turns out, quite fancies the shade and moisture offered by these towering bamboo plants. Who knew that the humble bamboo would turn out to be such a stellar partner in this cross-state collaboration?
Now, what makes this turmeric so highly sought after? Well, aside from its rich colour and flavour, Lakadong turmeric is known for its powerful medicinal properties. It’s a hot commodity in the wellness industry, with its curcumin and volatile oil content (which can range from 3.6% to 4.8%) making it a go-to for everything from boosting immunity to reducing inflammation. It’s the spice of life, quite literally!
And while the turmeric itself is poised to become the new darling of Delhi’s health-conscious foodies and herbalists, it’s also part of a larger movement to promote sustainable agriculture and support farmers. Recently, the Meghalaya Collectives, a government-backed initiative, showcased the region’s finest organic produce—including Lakadong turmeric—at the ‘World Food India 2024’ event in the capital. The spotlight was on farmer-producer organisations, rural entrepreneurship, and the benefits of sustainable farming practices. By promoting indigenous products like Lakadong turmeric, Khasi Mandarin, and Kew Pineapple, the aim is to boost farmers’ incomes while also enhancing agricultural productivity.
So, what’s next for Baansera Park and its turmeric triumph? With the first harvest around the corner, Delhi’s green spaces may soon find themselves teeming with even more exotic flora. And for the spice lovers and wellness warriors of the city, Lakadong turmeric is sure to become the latest must-have ingredient. As they say, you can’t make a curry without turmeric—and in this case, you certainly wouldn’t want to!
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