The Department of Horticulture, Leh, organised a six-day exposure visit to Kashmir for 40 farmers from Leh, Sham and Nubra districts under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

The programme aims to provide farmers with practical exposure to advanced horticultural practices, modern technologies and successful horticulture models.

The exposure tour was flagged off from NDS Ground, Leh, on September 20 by Director, Horticulture, UT Ladakh, Tsewang Punchok, in the presence of the Chief Horticulture Officer and District Horticulture Officer, Leh.

During the six-day visit, the farmers will visit prominent horticultural institutions and progressive horticulture sites in Kashmir, including the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Srinagar, SKUAST-Kashmir, CA stores, government nurseries, HADP sites and other horticultural establishments.

The participating farmers will gain firsthand knowledge of modern fruit production technologies, nursery management, high-density plantations, protected cultivation, integrated pest and disease management, post-harvest management, cold-chain practices and value addition.

The Department stated that such farmer-oriented exposure programmes are part of its continued efforts to strengthen the horticulture sector in Ladakh through knowledge sharing, technology transfer and capacity building.

The programme is expected to help farmers adopt modern and climate-resilient horticultural practices suited to the region and enhance productivity and sustainability in the sector.