Leh, Aug 14: Farmers from Hemis village received advanced training in precision farming at the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute’s Regional Research Station in Stakna on Thursday, strengthening Ladakh’s drive toward full organic certification by year-end.
Eighteen cultivators, including local leader Tsetan Tundup, attended the programme, which focused on resource-efficient methods suited to the Union Territory’s high-altitude, arid terrain. The session opened with Technical Officer Stanzin Landol outlining the agenda, followed by Station Head Dr. Maheshwar Singh, who detailed adaptive strategies to combat water scarcity and soil degradation through data-driven cultivation. Assistant Chief Technical Officer Jigmat Stanzin led discussions on integrating indigenous knowledge with modern organic practices to protect crops from erratic weather linked to climate shifts.
Farmers shared on-ground experiences, which guided live demonstrations of agroforestry layouts, mustard–cucumber crop rotations, and protected structures such as trench beds and low tunnels. Developed under ICAR’s cold-arid research framework, these innovations aim to reduce costs and improve yields in areas with short growing seasons and limited farmland.
The initiative aligns with the Mission Organic Development Initiative, under which Ladakh has introduced phased measures including subsidies for solar greenhouses and lift irrigation. Officials view such training as vital for moving from subsistence to income-oriented farming, especially as tourism pressures and youth migration reshape the agricultural landscape.
In 2025, ICAR-CAZRI’s Leh unit has expanded outreach with animal feed distribution and winter vegetable diversification events to strengthen rural livelihoods amid desertification risks. The training concluded with a tour of machinery designed for high-altitude use, where participants voiced confidence in applying new techniques to enhance food security.
Dr. Singh reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to advancing precision agriculture through innovations such as IoT sensors and satellite imagery, supporting Ladakh’s path toward eco-conscious, self-reliant farming systems.
