Meghalaya's Ginger Makes Historic Voyage To Dubai As First Sea Export

SHILLONG: Meghalaya has recorded a historic milestone in its agricultural sector by shipping 15 metric tons of ginger to Dubai, the state's first ever sea export of the precious crop.

The maiden shipment, arranged by the Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company (FPC), is a giant step towards linking the region with global markets with the help of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Meghalaya government.

During the flag-off ceremony in Shillong, Chairman APEDA Abhishek Dev highlighted the role of sea shipments in making the business cost-effective. He noted, "Sea shipment is important for maintaining cost competitiveness."

"With our rigorous sea protocol and robust stakeholder collaboration, I have no doubt that our shipments will be received well in the UAE market," he added.

This program is designed to address the long-standing issues of Meghalaya's farmers, including dependence on middlemen and limited access to credit.

The 2017-established Eastern Ri-Bhoi Organic FPC has grown phenomenally, now empowering 500 farmers across nine villages. The cooperative has also enhanced its processing units, leading to a revenue increase from Rs. 17 lakh in 2018-19 to Rs. 374 lakh in 2023-24.

To increase export capacity further, the Meghalaya government is establishing an organically certified spice processing plant in Bhoirymbong, Ri-Bhoi District. The Rs. 21 crore facility will process over 10,000 metric tons of spices annually, benefiting 5,500 organic farmers and increasing their income through direct access to international customers.

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