Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, Aug 30: In an historic event, the apricots of Ladakh were exported today for the first time to Dubai.
The flag-off ceremony of the first ever international export of Ladakhi apricots to Dubai was presided over by Feroz Ahmad Khan, CEC LAHDC Kargil and Santosh Sukhadeve, Deputy Commissioner Kargil.
Apricot is the primary cash crop for the farmers of Kargil and had never been exported out of Ladakh, except for this year. Krishak Agritech, a farmer centric organization that is working with farmers across the Himalayan states, undertook this mammoth task to find markets for fresh Ladakhi apricots and ways to export them. Apricot has recently been identified as the primary crop for Kargil under ODOC programme of the Government of India.
CEC LAHDC Kargil, in his remarks highlighted that the export of Ladakhi fresh apricot outside Ladakh was banned since 1986 under the flimsy pretext of coddling moth. Since then, the issue was voiced at every possible platform but instead of finding the solution to the highlighted problem, the then Jammu & Kashmir Government continued the ban.
He further mentioned that this event marks an important milestone for Kargil, as now Krishak Agritech has taken the fruit not only to Indian market but also to the international market, with their first order of 150 kg from Dubai.
Deputy Commissioner Kargil emphasized that exporting apricots is a strategic priority for Kargil/Ladakh to contribute to the economy of the UT in its full potential.
Naveen Gahlawat Founder Krishak Agritech, informed that so far the organization has exported 20 MT of fresh apricots procured from more than 200 farmers of UT of Ladakh, of value of INR 30 lakh to the farmers, in addition to generating over 600 man-days of direct employment.
Exuberating over the feedback received from customers across the country, he shared that today they have secured their first order to send out Ladakhi apricots to international market – Dubai. “It comes with the help of Department of Industries and Commerce, UT of Ladakh through APEDA,” he added.
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