New Delhi/Leh, Apr 1: The Union Territory Administration of Ladakh has formalised a three-year export arrangement with National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL) to position the region’s agricultural and allied produce in national and overseas markets, signalling a calibrated shift towards structured market integration for local growers.
The agreement, signed under the aegis of the UT Administration, seeks to create an institutional framework to channel Ladakh’s produce through cooperative networks, with a focus on improving price realisation and expanding market access beyond the region’s limited consumption base.
The Memorandum of Understanding was executed at the World Trade Centre by Tsewang Punchok, Director of Horticulture, UT Ladakh, and Unupom Kausik, Managing Director, NCEL, in the presence of officials from the Horticulture and Cooperative Departments.
As part of the arrangement, the Horticulture Department has been designated as the nodal agency responsible for identifying export-worthy produce sourced from cooperative societies. NCEL, in turn, will facilitate market linkages, provide capacity-building support, and assist in processing and export logistics. The Cooperative Department will coordinate implementation and work towards strengthening the cooperative ecosystem underpinning the initiative.
Officials indicated that the UT Administration’s intervention is aimed at bridging structural gaps in market access, particularly for produce that has so far remained confined to local mandis due to logistical and institutional constraints. The agreement also lays emphasis on value addition and improved post-harvest management to meet market requirements.
In a bid to ensure financial transparency, the framework provides for direct payments to cooperative societies wherever feasible, reducing reliance on intermediaries and ensuring that returns accrue more directly to producers.
A Joint Committee comprising representatives of the Horticulture Department, NCEL, and other stakeholders will oversee the implementation of the agreement. The panel will periodically review progress and submit reports to the Administration.
The initiative reflects the UT Administration’s broader effort to integrate Ladakh’s agrarian economy with wider supply chains, while leveraging cooperative institutions to enable scale, standardisation, and sustained market engagement.
