Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the implementation of the 1,000 MT Fresh Apricot Export Initiative launched under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Lulu Group. The initiative aims to facilitate the export of Ladakh's premium fresh apricots to Dubai and other international markets.

Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture, Bhupesh Chaudhary, gave a detailed presentation outlining the implementation strategy for the initiative. The presentation covered the project framework, key provisions of the MoU, participation of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and aggregators, financial planning, identification of production villages and hamlets, establishment of collection centres, fresh apricot production estimates across Ladakh, previous production and export data, harvesting schedules, mapping of production clusters, transportation logistics, operational requirements, labour deployment, risk mitigation measures, contingency planning, and village-wise export projections.

Reviewing the action plan in detail, the Chief Secretary examined every component of the export chain, with special emphasis on ensuring seamless procurement, grading, sorting, packaging, transportation and timely dispatch of the produce. He sought updates on the quantity of fresh apricots being mobilised from different production clusters, transportation arrangements from Leh and Kargil to Srinagar and onward to Delhi, and the preparedness of the designated aggregators managing the supply chain.

Kundra also reviewed the grading and sorting process, quality standards, rejection rates and the reasons for any rejected produce, including pest infestation, spoilage and non-compliance with export specifications. He directed the concerned departments and aggregators to minimise post-harvest losses by strictly adhering to quality protocols and scientific handling practices.

The Chief Secretary further reviewed the payment mechanism for farmers and aggregators, stressing the need for timely, transparent and hassle-free payments. He instructed officials to ensure that quality certification, procurement procedures and financial transactions are completed efficiently without unnecessary delays.

During the meeting, Secretary Agriculture and Horticulture informed that a dedicated cargo aircraft is scheduled to depart from Delhi for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on July 14, carrying the first consignment of fresh apricots under the initiative. The Chief Secretary reviewed the flight schedule, cargo capacity and dispatch timeline, directing all stakeholders to ensure that the produce reaches Delhi well within the stipulated timeframe.

Emphasising the importance of efficient logistics, Kundra reviewed transportation routes from major production clusters, including Sarchu and Zanskar. He directed the Deputy Commissioners and all concerned agencies to closely monitor road conditions and coordinate with transport authorities to ensure the safe and timely movement of consignments to Srinagar and onward to Delhi. He also stressed the need for contingency planning to address any disruptions caused by road closures or adverse weather conditions.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed the preparedness of the five aggregators and the cooperative society participating in the initiative, assessing their procurement plans, farmer outreach, production estimates and operational readiness. He directed them to maintain close coordination with farmers and ensure adherence to production and harvesting schedules.

Reviewing the cold chain infrastructure, Kundra assessed the availability of pre-cooling facilities, refrigerated transport, temperature maintenance protocols and certification procedures. Highlighting that an uninterrupted cold chain is essential to preserving the quality of the fruit during transit, he instructed officials to strictly follow standard operating procedures from collection centres until export.

He further emphasised that Ladakh's unique identity should be prominently reflected on the packaging of the exported produce to strengthen the branding of the region's premium-quality apricots in international markets. He directed the concerned agencies to work closely with Fair Exports, Lulu Group and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with packaging, branding and quality standards prescribed under the export agreement.

The meeting also reviewed arrangements for the ceremonial flag-off of the inaugural consignment scheduled for July 14 and discussed inter-departmental coordination, including support from the Police Department for the smooth movement of refrigerated vehicles carrying the export shipment.

The meeting was attended by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Leh; Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture; Deputy Commissioner, Kargil; Director, Horticulture; Director, Agriculture; representatives of the concerned departments; and other senior officials associated with the implementation of the Fresh Apricot Export Initiative.