LEH, Jan 16: Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Saugat Biswas, chaired a meeting for the development and promotion of pashmina in Ladakh, and to develop pashmina as a leading brand from Ladakh, with committee members of the UT level apex committee for pashmina development. 

The meeting was attended by Director, Industries and Commerce, Moses Kunzang; Director, Animal/Sheep Husbandry Department, Mohammad Raza; State Director of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), J&K and Ladakh; Additional Registrar, Cooperatives; Associate Director, Research and Extension, High Mountain Arid Agriculture Research Institute Leh (SKAUST-K), All Changthang Pashmina Ladakh, and expert members from National Institute of Designing, Ahmadabad.

There were discussions and presentations on the production, supply chain of raw material, design, marketing and sales of pashmina in Ladakh. Key challenges in the various stages such as the production of raw material, processing, marketing etc were discussed comprehensively.

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Secretary Biswas also directed to have a contingency plan for the future and to have a comprehensive plan for fodder. He directed the concerned officials to conduct an analysis and submit the report.

State KVIC Director shared details on conducting research on the production of yarn, exploring sustainable solutions, upgradation of skill, modification of the existing loom and the need for small interventions.

National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad suggested workshops on spinning, weaving, dyeing and customising pashmina products.

The matter of easing business in the realm of Pashmina and Pashmina products were discussed extensively. Improvement in the quality of yarn production, creation of a yarn bank for small entrepreneurs, setting up of the state-of-the-art roving unit, dehairing plant and incubation support were deliberated upon in the meeting.

The Director, Animal Husbandry was tasked to make a comprehensive assessment of fodder requirements for sustaining the goats during drought situations. Fodder banks for the growers and other incentives will be worked out to support the nomadic producers of Pashmina.

It was also decided that institutes of National importance such as NID & NIFT will collaborate with the UT Administration in supporting design inputs, training, product diversification/marketing & branding matters for overall quality improvement in the sector.

Entrepreneurs in the sector will be sent for capacity building & exposure visits in the coming months, said Biswas, Secretary Industries & Commerce, Ladakh.

KVIC will coordinate with various schemes and handholding for quality improvement of yarn, he added.

The formation of the Apex committee will bring synergy in efforts of the various agencies and departments towards the overall improvement in the pashmina sector.