Kargil, August 10, 2021: NABARD distributed apricot harvesting nets among farmers of Darchik, Sanachey and Garkon villages in Aryan Valley of Kargil here today.

The distribution drive was organized in association with Himmotthan Society, a unit of Tata Trusts. A total of 82 harvesting nets were distributed among the apricot growers of three villages. Three Solar Apricot Dryers also will be installed, one each in these villages by the end of August, informed a press release issued by the Bank.

The mission of NABARD is to “Promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development through participative financial and non-financial interventions, innovations, technology and institutional development for securing prosperity”.

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To include the northernmost UT of India in its development mission, NABARD has sanctioned the project with grant assistance of ₹15.71 lakh under Farm Sector Promotion Fund (FSPF) for district Kargil and Leh. The project aims at demonstration and adoption of Solar Apricot Dryers and Apricot Harvesting Nets by tribal farmers of Lower Sham Valley of Ladakh i.e. Aryan Valley of Kargil. A total of 767 farmers will be benefitted across 11 villages of Ladakh (7 in Leh& 4 in Kargil).

The apricot dryers and harvesting nets can become game changer for increasing shelf life of apricots through good quality harvest, hygienic drying practice and will provide farmers better marketing opportunities along with better price for the produce, thereby increasing their income. This project will demonstrate adoption of good post-harvest practices by apricot growers.

NABARD has been implementing such projects in UT of Ladakh through agencies like Himmothan Society, SKUAST-HMAARI.