Meghalaya hosts first Northeast India Organic Week; draws delegates from 13 nations

Guwahati: The Meghalaya agriculture department, in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Department of Commerce, and the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM-Organics Asia), inaugurated the first Northeast India Organic Week on Friday.

The four-day event, which will conclude on Monday, brings together global buyers, organic experts, and youth delegates.

It aims to position Meghalaya and the northeast as a major hub for organic products, featuring the APEDA buyer-seller meet and the 4th IFOAM World Organic Youth Summit.

Delegates, importers, and representatives from 13 countries, including Malaysia, Taiwan, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Indonesia, are attending.

Officials said the initiative provides a platform to showcase the region’s organic potential and foster long-term collaborations.

“APEDA has helped Meghalaya’s high-value organic and natural produce such as ginger, turmeric, fresh fruits and niche spices enter new and emerging markets in the Middle East. These efforts have enabled stronger market linkages, higher value realisation for farmers and enhanced visibility for the state’s organic products,” an official said.

APEDA general manager Saswati Bose added, “Meghalaya, with its rich biodiversity and strong community-driven farming systems, is an ideal state for advancing organic agriculture.”

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Secretary Vijay Kumar D said, “Meghalaya is the second fastest growing state in the country, behind Tamil Nadu, and the only state with 10% growth over the last four years, post-Covid, a surge driven primarily by the agriculture sector.”