A meeting with the cooperative and its allied department was convened by Chering Dorjay, Minister for Cooperative and Ladakh Affairs on April 10 in Leh.

Dorjey Motup, CEC, Tsering Wangdus, EC Agriculture, Gyal P Wangyal, EC Health, Tsering Sandup, EC Tourism, Mumtaz Hussain, EC Animal and Sheep husbandry, Avny Lavasa, DC besides senior officers of Cooperatives and allied departments were present.

Informing about the state government effort to boost agriculture and milk production across Leh district,  Chering Dorjay said that the Government is providing loans under Cooperative sector on the minimum rate of interest through National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

He asked officers to arrange awareness camps across the district and educate people about welfare schemes under Cooperative sectors. And also to encourage farmers to avail benefits so that good income is generated by opening their own ventures.

The concerned officials were directed to establish village level cooperative societies and self-help groups to increase the local cooperative produce across the district.

The Agriculture and Cooperative department were asked to educate farmers about the latest technology so that the production by sowing hybrid seeds for seasonal vegetables will be increased.  He also asked for providing hybrid seeds to farmers by opening sale counters in villages.

Meeting also discussed the upcoming projects under cooperative sector including protected cultivation by replicating Chinese model greenhouses, promotion of apricot and sea buckthorn by maintaining organic nature and ensuring better quality as per international standards,  outsourcing packaging or local units set up in Leh and Kargil, post analyzing the commercial feasibility under Tetra packaging. 

Also, promotion of apricots, sea buckthorn and other herbs using cosmeceutical techniques, the establishment of cold storage at large scale in the district, promotion of Pashmina products and establishment of local motels and shops in both Leh and Kargil district to promote local foods and product were also discussed.