Leh: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) held a meeting with Director, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Dr Om Prakash Chaurasia, at Raj Niwas to discuss various projects for the benefits of farmers/entrepreneurs and development of saffron and Asafoetida (Hing) in Ladakh Tuesday.
Secretary, Animal/Sheep Husbandry, Shri Ravinder Kumar and Senior Scientist at DIHAR, Dr. Tsering Stobdan, were also present in the meeting.
Dr Chaurasia apprised the LG of the interaction that took place with officials from DIHAR and farmers/entrepreneurs in Leh and Kargil districts to understand their needs and demands.
He informed that several projects have been conceptualised for entrepreneurs in close coordination with both the Hill Councils.
He also informed that around 2,653 entrepreneurs would be targeted from Leh and Kargil under the projects over a period of three years which will cost Rs 91.7 crores. Calling the project technically viable, Dr Chaurasia informed that entrepreneurs in the field of horticulture, agriculture, animal/sheep husbandry and fisheries would be targeted.
Commending DIHAR under the guidance of Dr Chaurasia for taking the initiative, LG inquired about necessary steps that can be taken to protect pashmina goats from the cold climatic conditions in winter and attacks from predators in Changthang.
He also emphasised the need to develop saffron and Asafoetida (Hing) in Ladakh as cash crops to benefit the farmers and entrepreneurs and improve their livelihood opportunities. He inquired about the places in Ladakh with favourable climatic conditions where these spices can be grown.
Dr Chaurasia informed LG that the cultivation of saffron and Asafoetida (Hing) can be explored at Drass and Turtuk. He also informed that Ladakh is the ideal place in India to grow Asafoetida (Hing), which is currently being imported from Central Asia.
The LG instructed Dr Chaurasia to prepare the time frame along with the total area in which both these spices can be cultivated. He also instructed that the development of these spices in Ladakh should be done on a Public-Private Partnership model.
