KARGIL: Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, LAHDC Kargil, Rakesh Kumar has called for a focused push towards value addition, market expansion and branding of indigenous products, stressing that entrepreneurship must emerge as a central pillar of sustainable livelihood generation in the district.
Chairing a review meeting with stakeholders from the entrepreneurship, cooperative and industrial sectors, the Deputy Commissioner directed departments to ensure effective implementation of schemes under the MSME sector, Industries Department, SIDBI and PM Vishwakarma, while extending timely technical and institutional support to entrepreneurs and cooperative societies.
A major focus of the meeting was the growing potential of apricot-based enterprises. Reviewing the sector’s progress, Kumar highlighted the rising demand for apricot pulp and other value-added products and underscored the need for modern processing facilities, including aseptic fillers and sterilisation units, to enhance production capacity and improve market competitiveness.
Seeking to strengthen the identity of Kargil’s indigenous products, the Deputy Commissioner advocated securing Organic Certification and Geographical Indication (GI) tags for unique local produce and handicrafts, saying such measures would help improve branding, secure premium markets and increase returns for producers.
The meeting also deliberated on the emerging prospects of the wood carving industry, with Kumar calling for greater institutional support through skill development programmes, financial assistance and stronger market linkages for artisans. He noted that the sector has the potential to generate employment while preserving traditional craftsmanship.
In a parallel effort to diversify local enterprise, the Deputy Commissioner proposed specialised training programmes in Pashmina production, design and marketing to improve product quality and expand access to national and international markets.
Linking entrepreneurship with tourism, Kumar emphasised the need to develop distinctive Kargil-based souvenirs that showcase the region’s culture, heritage and historical legacy. Such products, he observed, could create new avenues of income while enhancing the visitor experience.
The meeting further reviewed High-Density Apple Plantation Schemes, diversification into high-value crops such as lettuce and the promotion of trout farming. The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned departments to disseminate scheme guidelines more effectively and ensure wider participation of farmers in government-supported initiatives aimed at increasing productivity and farm incomes.
He also encouraged entrepreneurs, exporters and cooperative societies to leverage e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart, to expand their market reach beyond the region and tap into growing consumer demand across the country.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner Ghulam Mohammad, Additional Deputy Commissioner Shabir Hussain, Chief Planning Officer Kacho Mohammad Hussain, Agriculture Officer Ali Raza, General Manager District Industries Centre (DIC) Kargil, officials of the Horticulture Department, representatives of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, entrepreneurs, apricot exporters and members of cooperative societies.
