Administrative Secretary, Horticulture Department, Ladakh, Ravinder Kumar discussed the status of Sea-buckthorn in UT Ladakh and its allied concerns during a meeting with concerned officers at Civil Secretariat on December 7.

Ravinder Kumar gave an insight into the prevailing scenario of the cultivation of Sea-buckthorn in Ladakh. He discussed the prospects of Sea-buckthorn adding to the economy of the farming community in the near future by adopting scientific approaches in its cultivation, besides underlining its importance in adding to the ecologically balanced habitat, employment generation, etc.

Further, he urged the participants to come up with the problems facing in relation to the marketing aspects of the fruit crop. Participants including Councillor of Panamik, entrepreneurs, and farmers besides the officers presented their inputs for ensuring successful interventions ranging from the cultivation of the fruit crop to overcoming the challenges in harvesting and ensuring the value addition of the fruit crop for a reliable market structure and earning better economic prospects for the stakeholder.

Secretary Ravinder assured all possible help from the Department as well as from other institutions of the Administration.

Tsering Sandup Councillor, Panamik, attended the meeting; Mirza Hussain, Councillor, Chuchot; Saira Bano, BDC Chuchot, Entrepreneurs; Area Manager Tata Trusts; Representative of Sham Valley Apricot Producer Organization and farmers associated, besides Officer of various department viz. Director Horticulture UT Ladakh; Chief Horticulture Officer, Leh; Horticulture Development Officer, Leh; Divisional Forest Officer, Leh and DDM NABARD.