Horticulture Crops
Spices
Meghalaya has natural advantages in growing a variety of spices of which the prominent ones are turmeric, ginger, chilli, black-pepper, and bay-leaf. Except for bay leaf, which is a minor forest produce, the other spices are cultivated.
The cultivation of turmeric (Lakadong variety) is concentrated in the Nongbah-Shangpung belt of Jaintia Hills district. The Lakadong variety has about 7.4% curcumin content and has very good commercial value in the market. The volatile oil content in dry turmeric varies between 3.6% to 4.8%
The variety of ginger mainly grown in the State is Nadia and Rio-de-Janeiro. Of these, Nadia has been found to give higher yield upto about 10 M.T. per hectare. This variety also has least fibre content. The volatile oil content (oleoresin) in dry ginger powder of this variety varies between 1.2 to 1.5%. Ginger cultivation is concentrated in East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and Ri-Bhoi Districts.
Chilli is grown all over the State while black pepper is grown mainly in the Khasi hills districts of the State. Large Cardamom has recently been introduced and is slowly becoming popular with the farmers. Bay leaf cultivation is concentrated on the southern slopes of the State adjourning Bangladesh.
Varieties Grown:
* Chilli
Hot Chilli : Synteng hot, NP-46, Jwala
Capsicum: Chinese giant,Bullnose,Oskosh , California Wonder
Pickle (achar) : Hungarian, Wax, Local Achar
* Black Pepper - Panniyur-1, Panniyur-2
* Large Cardamom - Bebo, Golsey, Ramla, Ramsey, Sawney, Varlangey
* Ginger - Nadia, Suprabha, Thingpui, Poona, Rio de Jeneiro, Thinglaidong, Tata, Wynad.
* Turmeric - Lakadong, RCT-1