Diplomat Correspondent
Leh, DD: The Chief Secretary and Chairperson of the State/UT-Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Dr Pawan Kotwal chaired a meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Leh.
The meeting aimed to finalize the Annual Action Plan-2025-26 under CSS-KY and RKVY for the Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture in Ladakh.
At the outset, Secretary of Agriculture, Bhupesh Chaudhary, welcomed the chair and the participants and provided an overview of the objectives of the meeting.
Joint Director of Agriculture, Thinles Dawa, presented a detailed analysis of the Draft Annual Action Plan for 2025-26 under the Krishonnati Yojana.
The presentation covered key schemes, including Agriculture Extension Services; Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme; National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM); NFSNM-Wheat and NFSNM-Pulses.
Following this, the Director of Horticulture Tsewang Phunchok presented the comprehensive Annual Action Plan for 2025-26, highlighting various initiatives aimed at advancing horticulture and sustainable agriculture in Ladakh. He elaborated on the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), which focuses on improving horticultural crop production through enhanced infrastructure, modern technology, and farmer support.
A key component of the discussions was the Pradhan Mantri – Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY), which plays a crucial role in promoting region-specific agricultural growth through targeted funding and interventions. The meeting also extensively discussed the Per Drop More Crop initiative, which promotes water conservation and efficient irrigation techniques to optimize agricultural water usage.
Additionally, the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) was highlighted as a crucial step in increasing the adoption of modern agricultural machinery, thereby reducing labour dependency and enhancing productivity. The Director of Horticulture also provided insights into the Soil Health and Fertility Plan under PM-RKVY, emphasizing balanced nutrient management, organic farming practices, and regular soil testing to maintain long-term soil health.
The meeting also covered the promotion of Agroforestry, emphasizing the integration of tree-based farming systems to enhance farm income, improve soil quality, and maintain ecological balance.
The Chief Secretary underscored the importance of skill development and specialized training programs for farmers, particularly in tree grafting techniques, to improve the region’s fruit production. He directed officials to conduct hands-on training workshops in collaboration with horticulture experts and agricultural scientists to educate farmers on modern grafting methods.
To strengthen self-sufficiency in horticulture, the Chief Secretary emphasized that nurseries should prioritize the procurement of saplings from local growers, thereby supporting indigenous horticultural enterprises and reducing dependence on external suppliers.
Furthermore, the Chief Secretary stressed the promotion of polycarbonate greenhouses, recognizing their potential to extend the growing season and enhance year-round vegetable and fruit production in Ladakh’s extreme climatic conditions.
Addressing the region’s agricultural priorities, the Chief Secretary underscored the need to scale up the production of potatoes and sea buckthorn. He emphasized the importance of introducing high-quality seed varieties that are better suited to the region’s terrain and climate.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Dr Laltinkhuma Franklin; Administrative Secretary, Bhupesh Chaudhary; Chief Conservation of Forest, Sajjad Mufti; DC Kargil, Shrikant Suse; ADC Leh, Ghulam Mohd; Director Industries & Commerce, MA Bhat; Head, ICAR Leh Dr Maheswar Singh; Director Horticulture, Tsewang Phunchok; Joint Director, Agriculture Thinles Dawa; Head KVK Leh, Dr Phuntsog Tundup; Under Secretary Agriculture, Amir Suhail; and other concerned officers.DD
