Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, met a delegation from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) led by its Chairman, Dr. Meenesh Shah, in New Delhi on November 3.

The Lt. Governor emphasized that the dairy and allied sectors play a crucial role in building self-reliant and resilient communities across Ladakh by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, empowering rural households, and reducing dependence on external markets.

He noted that focused interventions in animal husbandry, milk processing, and cold-chain logistics would significantly enhance farmers’ incomes and contribute to realizing the vision of a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Ladakh, in alignment with the national goal of inclusive and sustainable rural development.

Earlier, Dr. Meenesh Shah presented NDDB’s ongoing and proposed initiatives aimed at empowering local dairy farmers and strengthening the dairy ecosystem in Ladakh through enhanced community participation. He sought administrative support for key projects, including:

Establishment of a new 50 TLPD dairy plant in Leh,
Solar-powered expansion of the Kargil dairy plant, and
Expedited approval for NDDB’s plans to improve milk productivity and procurement across the region.

Dr. Shah also highlighted the need for farmer mobilization in Leh and Kargil districts and suggested exploring solutions to address the high air transport costs for perishables like apricots during winter through viable logistics options or subsidy mechanisms to ensure economic sustainability for local producers.

The Lt. Governor reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to collaborate closely with NDDB and local stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability, enhanced farmer incomes, and inclusive rural growth. He assured full administrative support to translate NDDB’s initiatives into tangible benefits for the people of Ladakh, furthering the shared vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Ladakh.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB; S. Regupathi, Executive Director, NDDB; J.T. Chary, Deputy Managing Director, Mother Dairy; Manoj Solanki, Managing Director, Ladakh Milk Federation; Sandeep Dheeman, Senior Manager, NDDB; and Nikit Bansal, Manager, NDDB.