Leh, July 5: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved two landmark initiatives aimed at strengthening Ladakh’s globally renowned Pashmina industry and improving the livelihoods of the Changpa pastoral community.
The decisions were taken during the first meeting of the newly constituted Ladakh Pashmina Development Board (LPDB) on Saturday.
The first initiative introduces the Livestock Development Incentive Programme, under which eligible Changpa herders will receive a 25 per cent top-up incentive over and above the government procurement price for raw Pashmina. The incentive will be transferred directly to beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
Under the scheme, 60 per cent of the incentive will be earmarked for livestock improvement and scientific breeding, 20 per cent for infrastructure development such as improved combing equipment, and the remaining 20 per cent for the herders’ personal and household needs.
The second major decision is the creation of an ₹8 crore Revolving Fund for the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Cooperative Marketing Society Ltd. (ACPGCMS) to facilitate the procurement of raw Pashmina and ensure timely payments to nomadic herders.
The fund will enable the cooperative to pay 50 per cent of the procurement value upfront, with the remaining amount to be released within two months. Previously, herders often had to wait between eight and ten months for full payment, forcing many to borrow money to sustain their livestock.
The administration has also set an ambitious target of doubling the population of Changthangi Pashmina goats from nearly two lakh to four lakh within three years. It also aims to increase raw Pashmina production from the current average of 200 grams per goat to at least 350 grams through scientific breeding and improved livestock management.
Highlighting the significance of the initiatives, LG Saxena said the Changpa pastoral communities are custodians of one of Ladakh’s most valuable natural and cultural assets. He said the new policies would make Pashmina goat rearing more profitable, strengthen cooperative procurement, eliminate distress sales and exploitation by middlemen, and encourage younger generations to continue the traditional occupation.
The proposals were finalised after extensive consultations with Changpa herders, cooperative societies, industry experts, designers and other stakeholders to enhance the sustainability, quality and global competitiveness of Ladakh’s premium Pashmina.
