Leh, Jan 15: Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra has called for a full study of advanced wool processing technologies used within India and overseas, urging the administration to adopt methods that suit Ladakh’s harsh terrain and climate. He said cooperative societies must grow into active market aggregators that ensure fair prices, transparency, and direct buyer access for Changthangi herders, who remain the backbone of the region’s Pashmina trade.
Kundra issued the direction while chairing a comprehensive review meeting in Leh on the development and promotion of Pashmina in the Union Territory. The discussion underlined a long-term plan to strengthen Ladakh’s entire Pashmina ecosystem — from goat rearing in high-altitude pastures to wool processing, certification, and global market presence.
Officials of the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department briefed the meeting with a detailed presentation on the legacy of Ladakh Pashmina, the traditional value chain, and the administration’s proposed “A to Z Vision for Pashmina Development.” The blueprint included financial support for herders, modern dehairing and spinning units, integrated project planning, and branding of Ladakh Pashmina as a premium product — with the crucial aim of carrying benefits to grassroots communities.
Kundra stressed that policies must reflect field realities instead of remaining confined to administrative notes. He sought clarity on average wool yield per Changthangi goat, manual versus machine dehairing performance, spinning expenses, and the status of farmer cooperatives. He also directed officials to map the population of nomadic herders to determine whether families are leaving the trade and the causes driving the shift.
In a major policy direction, Kundra ordered prioritisation of a PCR-based DNA testing facility in Ladakh to provide foolproof authentication of pure Pashmina. He said the region cannot expect market trust unless it protects its own product from imitation.
The Chief Secretary urged the Deputy Commissioner Leh to examine the daily hardships faced by herders and ensure that upcoming interventions address these pain points. He further directed senior officers to visit advanced processing centres to gather insights that can be adapted for Ladakh’s unique conditions.
Skill development also figured prominently in the discussions. Kundra tasked Secretary School Education and Technical Education & Skill Development, Bhanu Prabha, IAS, to lead structured training initiatives for artisans, spinners, and Pashmina workers, with a view to nurturing a new generation of local enterprise.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Finance Dr. Laltinkhuma Franklin, Deputy Commissioner Leh Romil Singh Donk, Director Industries & Commerce Mohd Ashraf Bhatt, Joint Director Planning Tsering Angdus, District Registrar of Cooperatives Huma Khan, Deputy Director PGF Dr. Tundup Namgial, and officers from the UT Administration and Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department.
