Apricot, the appealing product of district Kargil made headlines in media many times since formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh. Last year, the product which was banned to export beyond Zojila pass found market in metro cities like Mumbai and international markets like Dubai. However, the current year drought reportedly reduced the quantity of its production and the boom it gained last year also seems to have declined.

The apricot also made news when the Union territory Administration decided to take action for its production, marketing, branding etc under the One District One Product scheme. Sensing the concerns of the apricot Grovers, Voice of Ladakh team interviewed farmers from Government declared Apricot village, Hardass. The farmers spoke on diverse issues like shortage of irrigation water, lack of expertise in Apricot processing, lack of quality processing materials and proper connectivity to the village.

On asking about production in Apricot quantity, an apricot farmer Mohammad Zakir said that they faced severe drought this year. They have a water lifting pump that was taken to Srinagar to fix a problem that took at least one month in the beginning of the season. the administration assisted in fixing the pump but in the mean while the Apricot flowers fell down due to water scarcity that bore less fruit.

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The water source in the area has many dependent villages and many source points: three for Budgam, one each for Hardass, Karkitchoo, Buroo and Majdass. Thus, we have no water from upstream. Now the only source of water is river water lifted with pump that also depends on the electricity supply.

I myself used to have 10 to 15 bags of apricot every year that has this year reduced to only three. Like our ancestors we calculate in terms of mann. One mann is equal to 40 kg. I used to have 15 mann and now I got only three, said Zakir. I used to have 5 to 6 mann of apricot every year which has reduced to only one this year, said another farmer Mohd Sultan.

An elderly farmer Haji Mhammad Abdu said that the Apricot production has affected badly due to the drought and the administration is also not providing adequate attention for its production. Apricot is the best product of Ladakh and we have lot of Army personal in the area. If the government makes an arrangement to provide this apricot to them that will be beneficial. Apricot is good to keep body warm and it is full of protein. This is cheaper also then other dry fruits in the market, Haji Abdu added.

The village is also identified as Apricot village by the Government which stands only for name sake. There is no benefit of this naming expect erecting the sign board, said Mohd Zakir.

As the Agriculture and horticulture department takes women on (exposure) tour, I request them to stop it and instead bring some good and quality equipment like ploughing machine, apple picker, buckets for chemical treatment etc. The products are of low quality and substandard, said Zakir.

On asking about processing apricot to make value added products like jam or juice, Zakir said that a factory is functional near the village where few female works. At village also few people know the process of making jam and juice. Our village has different other fruits also like walnut, almond, Apple, grapes, apricot and many more.

But the primary challenge is the irrigation kul of the village. Our ancestor used to say that the source of the irrigation canal is in Pakistan who would take or demand different products like payu, tea etc to provide the water supply. Second issue is the bridge that connects the village to the national highway. The development of the village is stagnant due to the poor condition of the bridge, said Zakir.

There are many people who are dependent totally on apricot production for their livelihood. On asking, how they are making their livelihood when the apricot production is meagre, Zakir said that the decrease in apricot production has affected a lot on household economy. Few got only three bags, few only two and few less than that. Earlier, a huge number of people would use to sit here at Changra (a public place). Now, a huge number of people have joined work at Beacon to make their livelihood. People are moving to other traits due to fewer production of Apricot.

Mohd Salman work as a porter for the army said, “I have seen that the government supplies Afghanistan Apricot to the army which is very low in quality. If local apricot it provided and supplied to the army that would be beneficial for the local farmers. I work as a porter for army and run a small shop here in the evening to make livelihood”.

Haji Mohammad Abdu said that the village has 16 to 17 types of Apricot that are Halman, Rta Chuli, Kho Chuli, Brok Chuli. Haji Mohd Ali counted few others: Yambrak, Khapik Chuli, Shakanda, Baru gholam, Amba. I got few other “Genetic Diversity Of Apricot” from a sign board at Horticulture Department Office at Baroo that counts the number to 54 Apricot genotypes growing in Ladakh are: Amba, Afghani, Australian, Aam, Adzo, Arghoun, Bongti, Bro-chuli, Badam-Chuli, Chulikarpo, Charmagz, Chharap, Day-Chuli, Germoy, tago, Ghoun-Chuli, Kaisi, Go-Tsos, Gilgitsweet, Halman, Jeembo-chuli, Ltasmet, Mamur-Chuli, Margulam, Moti-tilli, Mircho, Narmo, Narmo Gosmin, Narmo-Ritonil, Narmo-Tsangya, Nari, Pechung tilli, Papa-chuli, Koban, Khantey, Rakchey karpo, Rdongmer, Rogan, Shakanda, Shambair, Cheepa-chesmo, Ston-chulli, suka, tripa, Tokpopa, Thul- chuli, Urgan-chuli, yarken, Zan-chuli Zgoagchuli etc.

“The Apricot was first brought from Skardu. If branching is made of Halman on a Halman tree that is known as Halman Hangole which is sweet and bigger in size”, said Mohd Salman.

“We had expected that apricot production and marketing will prosper after formation of the Union Territory. There was some sign of that also; last year this Apricot got place in market of Dubai but there is no such attempt this year. Secondly, the Horticulture department who provides equipment and chemicals for Apricot processing are provided to contractors who brings substandard quality of products. This is also causing loss to our apricot”, said Haji Abdu.

“Elders says that from Skardu (in Pakistan) to till here the best quality of apricot is grown at Hardass. The concerned department must provide exposure tour to Apricot producers of Kargil to Apricot growing countries like Afghanistan and Turkey because their processing is advanced and better”, Haji Abdu added.