Guwahati: From Meghalaya’s globally sought-after Lakadong turmeric to Assam’s citrus fruits and Nagaland’s indigenous chillies, North East India is increasingly emerging as one of the country’s most promising frontiers for food processing and agri-exports.
Industry leaders, policymakers and agricultural experts at the India Food Manufacturing Summit – Northeast in Guwahati said the region’s vast horticultural base, coupled with rising global demand for organic, traceable and speciality food products, could position the North East as a significant contributor to India’s food export ambitions over the next decade.
The summit, organised by the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) in association with the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), focused on how the region can move beyond raw commodity sales and build a value-added food economy integrated with global supply chains.
The North East produces a diverse range of fruits and high-value crops, including pineapple, orange, banana, kiwi, jackfruit, passion fruit and tomato, alongside speciality products such as Lakadong turmeric, high-fibre ginger, large cardamom, black pepper and indigenous chillies.
Many of these products command premium prices in international markets because of their organic cultivation practices, distinctive flavour profiles and geographical identity.
However, experts pointed out that a substantial portion of the region’s agricultural output continues to be sold in raw form, limiting farmer incomes and exposing supply chains to significant post-harvest losses.
Inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, fragmented aggregation systems and limited processing capacity have historically prevented the region from fully capitalising on its agricultural strengths.
Participants at the summit argued that the next phase of growth lies in transforming the North East from a supplier of raw produce into a processing-driven food economy.
Such a transition, they said, could unlock opportunities in fruit pulping, dehydration, spice extraction, frozen foods, essential oils, organic packaged foods, ready-to-cook products and ethnic cuisine-based brands targeting both domestic and international consumers.
The export potential is particularly significant as global consumers increasingly shift towards clean-label, organic and wellness-focused food products.
Lakadong turmeric, known for its exceptionally high curcumin content, already enjoys strong international demand, while indigenous chillies, ginger and large cardamom are steadily finding niche markets in Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Industry representatives said the North East’s proximity to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Southeast Asia provides a strategic advantage under India’s Act East policy.
Ongoing investments in road, rail and multimodal connectivity infrastructure across the region are expected to reduce logistics costs and improve access to export markets.
Analysts believe food processing could emerge as a major employment generator for the region, particularly for rural youth and women-led enterprises.
Decentralised processing units, farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and cooperative-led branding models are increasingly being viewed as effective pathways for scaling production while retaining value within local communities.
The summit also underscored the need for greater investments in warehousing, refrigerated transport and food-testing infrastructure to help producers meet international quality, safety and traceability standards.
Experts said branding and geographical indication (GI)-based marketing would be critical in differentiating North East products in highly competitive global markets.
During the event, TPCI and NERAMAC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting products from the North East and improving market access opportunities.
Stakeholders said such institutional partnerships could help connect regional producers with buyers, technology providers and export platforms.
With India seeking to significantly expand its agri-food exports, industry observers said the North East has the potential to evolve into a specialised hub for premium organic and processed foods, transforming its agricultural economy from subsistence-led production to export-oriented value addition.
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