Ladakh Ecological Development Group

Ladakh Ecological Development Group

knowledge to change the world

Agriculture & Food Processing

Ladakhi agriculture is primarily subsistent in nature but unique and representative of the Tibetan plateau farming system. Until recently, Ladakhis grew and consumed their own grains, cereals and vegetables, prepared their own manure, seeds and other agricultural inputs, reared their own animals and prepared their own farms in an integrated and balanced manner as a response to Ladakh’s agro climatic conditions. However, low cropping intensity, less productivity and a short agriculture season has resulted in the dependence of its growing population on import of food grains, vegetables and spices. Besides, as Ladakh opens to the world, its traditional agricultural system and crops face severe disruptions. Agriculture has now taken a back seat to the rapid growth of tourism in the region. Nonetheless, there is a huge potential for agriculture in Ladakh, despite its high altitude and arid climate. Ladakh grows niche crops, both agricultural and horticultural, which with an appropriate value added and proper marketing can herald a green revolution of its own sort in this region. Focusing on vegetable production in winters and using cost effective technologies, so as to tap the local market in the prolonged winter season can prove to be very beneficial to local farmers. Areas of intervention: Improved Green Houses (IGH), Lambing Shed, Poultry Farming, Compost Pits, Value Addition and Marketing of Horticulture Products

LEDeG has committed itself to promote advanced agricultural techniques, based on traditional methods of agriculture, for achieving agricultural self sufficiency of the region of Ladakh, for over two and a half decades now. LEDeG has achieved, through all its years of experience, a level of expertise in the following:
 

  • Diversification of Ladakh’s agricultural base, so as to minimise the risk of a single crop failure.
  • Introduction and domestication of high yielding crop varieties.
  • Motivating and supporting farmers to adopt the appropriate technologies so as to increase production.
  • Promoting the horticultural sector in the region.
  • Value addition and marketing of agricultural products.
  • Organic farming and seed production.
  • Dissemination of technical knowledge of agricultural extension through trainings, workshops and meetings.

PILOT PROJECT FOR IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING CONDITIONS OF STRUCTURALLY DISADVANTAGED AREAS OF LADAKH THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF VILLAGE-BASED MICRO-ENTERPRISES

Year:2006 – 2007 Total budget:2, 50, 000 Funding Agencies:Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai In order to improve the living conditions ...

LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVES BASED ON APRICOTS IN LADAKH

Project Location:Lehdo (Khaltse) and Udmaroo (Nubra) of Leh district Funding Agency:Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Mumbai Total Budget:Rs.40.91 lacs Duration:3-year (2008-11) ...

PROGRAM FOR PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER IN LEH TOWN

Duration of the ProjectMinimum 4 years (starting date – January 2010) Total Funds RequiredRs. 52,99,294 LocationThe Notified Area of Leh ...

URBAN WATER HEALTH LEH RESEARCH (URWAHL)

Project period: 08/2012 – 04/2015 Project area:Leh Funding agencies:European CommissionGerman Research Foundation Project partners:Ladakh Ecological Development Group, India (LEDeG), Bonn ...

FRUIT PROCESSING IN COLLABORATION WITH SIR DORABJI TATA TRUST MUMBAI

Duration:2013 – 2015 Project goal:Sustainable Utilisation of Natural Resources for improved earnings through Value Addition & Increased Agricultural Productivity. Project ...

Compost pits

LEDeG’s Agriculture team has been actively involved in promoting the use of organic manures and bio-fertilisers in Ladakh to avoid the over usage of chemical fertilisers, which is both detrimental to environment as well as unhealthy. Also, increase in the cost of production has led the agriculture team to promote the use of locally available biomass in the form of organic manure which has been suitable for a region like Ladakh. The group has also been encouraging the use of non-conventional sources of energy for heating and cooking, diverting cow-dung and agricultural waste from village hearths to village fields. This is an area that needs immediate intervention which LEDeG took as an integrative development approach. In the year 2006-07, seven advanced farmers were involved in the construction of compost pits in different villages of the Leh district. It is assumed that other farmers will employ the use of locally available biomass for fertilising their agricultural fields in the near future realising the benefits through the experience of others.

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