Leh, May 17 : In an effort to strengthen quality fruit cultivation and boost export-oriented horticulture practices in Ladakh, the Department of Horticulture on Thursday organised a one-day Training-cum-Farmers Awareness Programme for orchard growers from Achinathang, Lehdo, Takmachik and Hanuthang villages in Leh district.
More than 120 farmers, including village Nambardars and members of the Sham Valley Apricot Producer Cooperative Ltd, participated in the programme, which focused on orchard management, organic cultivation practices and production of marketable apricot crops.
The programme was conducted in the presence of Kunzang Wangmo and Tashi Dolma, who stressed the need for adopting scientific cultivation methods and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) during the upcoming fruit season.
Officials advised farmers to follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, ensure timely irrigation and adopt recommended orchard schedules to improve fruit quality and productivity. The training also highlighted opportunities for increasing farmers’ income through export of premium-quality apricots to domestic and international markets under agreements signed with export companies.
During the programme, field demonstrations were conducted on the use of biopesticides and foliar nutrients, while spray pumps were distributed among participating farmers to support orchard management activities.
Addressing the gathering, Kunzang Wangmo urged growers to strictly adhere to technical guidelines for producing high-quality marketable fruit. Tashi Dolma emphasised the growing demand for organically cultivated fruits and encouraged farmers to register under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) certification norms to facilitate export of certified organic produce.
Tsewang Nurboo also advised farmers to prioritise quality production by consistently following technical instructions provided by experts and extension agencies.
The programme concluded with department officials thanking farmers for their participation and reaffirming continued technical support to strengthen Ladakh’s horticulture sector and expand market access for apricot growers in Sham Valley.
