Kargil’s local market achieves new milestone as apricot hits national market
Nursery Today Desk
New Delhi. Kargil district in the Union Territory of Ladakh, famous for its apricot production witnessed a historic moment as its fresh apricots made a grand entry into the national and international market.
The commencement of this momentous occasion was marked by a flag-off ceremony, presided over by Aga Syed Mehdi Fazily, Executive Councillor of Social Welfare, Horticulture, Handloom, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments, LAHDC, Kargil, and Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, Deputy Commissioner and CEO of LAHDC, Kargil.
Members of Krishi Agritech, a renowned farmer-centric organisation operating across the Himalayan States and other officials celebrated the successful export of fresh apricots. As per official figures, Kargil district has 129 villages out of which around 64 villages are under fruit cultivation. Out of the 64, there are 10-15 villages producing a sizeable quantity of apricot. Hundreds of farmers in Kargil market are dependent on the apricot business for several decades and make their livelihood out of it. This ambitious project, which aims to enter the global market, not only demonstrates the region’s agricultural competence but also the cooperative efforts of local business owners.
The sweet-tasting apricots are first harvested, dried, and then shipped beyond the area. Apricots are found in both the districts- Kargil and Leh of Ladakh. However, the best quality is produced in Kargil. There are around 40 varieties of apricots in Ladakh region.
DC Shrikant Balasahab Suse expressed his pride for this success and emphasised how important it was for the entire region, not just Kargil. The dedication of Krishak Agritech to bringing the produce of Ladakh to people throughout the world can be seen by the company’s growth beyond of national boundaries.
Ali Raza, the Chief Horticulture Officer, provided the following notable achievements of Krishak Agritech: 6 metric tonnes of fresh apricots from Kargil and an astonishing 31 metric tonnes from Leh have already been exported. These fruits have been distributed throughout India to a number of well-known marketplaces, including those in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and the Delhi/NCR area. Raza thanked the unwavering support of all parties involved for this initiative’s tremendous success.
Beyond the short-term economic gains, this milestone highlights the region’s enormous potential for additional expansion in the agricultural industry. This ambitious project establishes a promising precedent for future partnerships between agricultural innovators and the international market, effectively decreasing wastage and assuring fair pay for farmers, ushering in a new era of prosperity for the Kargil district and beyond.
