The Department of Horticulture, Leh, flagged off an Exposure-cum-Training Tour for 70 progressive farmers of the district to various advanced horticultural institutions and centres in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on November 10.

The week-long tour, scheduled from November 10 to 16, 2025, aims to enhance the technical knowledge and practical understanding of farmers in modern horticultural practices, post-harvest management, and value addition.

The tour was flagged off early this morning at 6:00 AM from Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium, Leh, by Tsewang Punchok, Director of Horticulture, UT Ladakh, in the presence of Kunzang Wangmo, Chief Horticulture Officer, LAHDC Leh, along with Horticulture Development Officers from the Leh and Khaltse zones and other departmental officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Tsewang Punchok, Director of Horticulture, UT Ladakh, reiterated the department’s commitment to empowering farmers through exposure to the latest technologies and innovations in the horticulture sector. He emphasized that such initiatives are instrumental in strengthening Ladakh’s horticultural landscape by bridging the gap between traditional practices and modern techniques.

During the tour, the farmers will visit several key institutions and centres, including:

Directorate of Horticulture, Rajbagh – Mushroom Centre
Centre of Excellence, Zakura – Advanced Horticulture, Shopian
 SKUAST–Kashmir
 CITH Cold Storage Facility, Lassipora, Pulwama
Sericulture Institute, Pattan

The tour will be coordinated by officials from the Department of Horticulture, Leh, who will facilitate interactive sessions, field visits, and ensure the smooth and timely execution of the programme for all participating farmers.

Kunzang Wangmo, Chief Horticulture Officer, Leh, expressed optimism that the exposure will motivate farmers to adopt advanced technologies such as protected cultivation, micro-irrigation, mushroom production, and integrated pest management. She noted that these practices can significantly boost productivity and income generation across the region.

The Department of Horticulture reaffirmed its continued efforts to strengthen farmer capacity through training programmes, exposure visits, and demonstration-based learning, thereby promoting sustainable horticultural development throughout Ladakh.