The first International Buyer Seller Meet on the export of apricot and other Agri products from Ladakh was held at Hotel Grand Dragon on June 14.

The meet was organised by UT Administration in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

LG Mathur thanked APEDA for the initiatives and for organising the first International Buyer Seller Meet in Ladakh. He stated that the Buyer Seller Meet is a joint effort by UT Administration and APEDA to create an ecosystem to provide products from Ladakh the market they deserve and also provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from Ladakh to grow. 

LG Mathur said that the primary sector has great potential to develop entrepreneurs from Ladakh and stressed the need for growth in this sector. He further stated that the produce from Ladakh, such as Halman and Raktsey Karpo varieties of apricot, sea buckthorn, and apples, are unique and cannot be produced in any other part of the country. 

He further stated that high-quality niche products from Ladakh may be produced in low volumes and sold at high prices in the market. It was informed that the process for Geographical Indication (GI) tagging of Halman and Raktsey Karpo varieties of apricots and sea buckthorn from Ladakh has already started. LG Mathur suggested that GI tagging of apples from Ladakh may also be processed due to its uniqueness and growth at a high altitude.

LG Mathur advised the entrepreneurs to position Ladakh as a primary sector production destination and stressed the need for promoting and bringing medicinal plants and horticulture products indigenous to Ladakh before the whole world. He further advised the entrepreneurs and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to maintain the quality of their products and engage in commercial production of medicinal and nutraceutical plants, Sanjeevani, sea buckthorn, etc. on large fields.

He expressed hope that Meet would facilitate the buyers and sellers to discuss issues such as the need for adequate technologies and logistic support, etc., and come up with possible solutions. He termed the primary sector as critical for Ladakh as lots of people from rural households are engaged in this sector for their livelihood.

He also interacted with the export producers/FPOs and exhibitors from Ladakh and inquired about the issues faced by them and the technical interventions required to increase the shelf life of the products.

MP, Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal appreciated APEDA for organising the event and expressed hope to see Ladakh developing in the Horticulture/Agriculture sectors. He stressed the need to make Ladakh a brand for organic products and highlighted various initiatives taken by the Administration and Hill Council Leh to make Mission Organic Development Initiative (MODI) successful in Ladakh.

Chairman, APEDA, M Angamuthu highlighted Ladakh’s potential in Horticulture, Agriculture, and Food Processing sectors due to its uniqueness. He shared that APEDA would provide handholding, and capacity-building training, assist in creating linkages, providing infrastructure and logistics support to entrepreneurs and FPOs from Ladakh. He shared that APEDA would make efforts to build a brand image for products from Ladakh, particularly apricot, apples, sea buckthorn, and medicinal plants.

Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, and Secretary, Agriculture, and Horticulture, Ravinder Kumar shared the initiatives taken by the Administration to promote horticulture and food processing products from Ladakh in both national and foreign markets.

Buyers from the United States, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Dubai, and also from various parts of India gave suggestions, particularly regarding logistics.

Officials from APEDA, district officials from the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Leh, and buyers and sellers from Ladakh, Jammu, and Srinagar, participated in the Buyer-Seller Meet.