A stress on making Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) scheme available to every district ensuring farmers of Ladakh to get their due share was made during the review meeting of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, PMKSY on August 26 at Council Secretariat.

The meeting was chaired by Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of the State Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Panchayati Raj. Hill Council, Leh, and Agriculture allied departments were present.

Major issues of Leh district including non-release of funds under PMKSY despite the approval of ₹ 564 cr by Government of India for Leh district last year. Earliest sanctioning of ₹ 536 cr  Sea buckthorn project for Leh which stand submitted at the centre level, funds for procuring milk pasteurization plant for Leh, pasture and fodder development and development of organic farming in the district were also mentioned.

Tashi Tsetan, Chief Agriculture Officer, Leh briefed about the agriculture features of Leh district. He said that out of the total 45, 000 sq km area only 10,000-hectare land is under crop area with proper irrigation facilities. 

Parshottam Rupala asked Hill Council, Leh, to give the data of total cultivable land of Leh district which could be brought under crop area by developing new irrigation facilities under PMKSY. He assured to inquire about the reasons for non-release of funds for Leh under PMKSY. 

Regarding setting up of a vegetable mandi and market linkages for Leh, he directed agriculture department to work on introducing National Agriculture Market or eNAM in the district which is an online trading platform for agriculture commodities in India.  He also assured to send a team of market experts from his ministry to Leh.

For pasture and fodder development and dairy industry in the district, Parshottam Rupala said that the ministry will approach TATA Pvt. Ltd which has developed drones technique for agriculture which could be used in the cultivation of fodder in Changthang area. He also suggested few research centers of India which have developed suitable fodder seeds as per the climatic and geographical conditions. 

To meet the urgent need of milk pasteurization plant, he instructed Hill Council, Leh to submit a separate proposal and assured to follow it with the concerned ministry.  He also suggested Animal Husbandry Department to go for 'Sexed semen' to increase female calf population. 

Dorjey Motup, CEC, ECs, Thupstan Chhewang, MP, all the HODs of allied departments and research centres headed by Avny Lavasa, Deputy Commissioner Leh attended the meeting. 

Discussion on Pashmina development, organic farming, and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was also held.