Leh, May 14: Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Dr Pawan Kotwal Thursday chaired a meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Leh to review the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the procurement of Apricot dryer machines.
During the meeting, Bhupesh Chaudhary, Administrative Secretary of the Horticulture department, Ladakh, gave a comprehensive presentation on the DPR. He outlined the critical need for apricot dryer machines in Ladakh, emphasising their role in enhancing the value chain of apricot production, reducing post-harvest losses, and promoting entrepreneurship in the region. His presentation covered key aspects, including project components, land requirements, infrastructure provisions such as electricity, road connectivity, and water supply, as well as the financial outlay and economic viability of the project.
It was informed that the apricot dryer machines will be procured and installed at Khaltse in Leh district and in Kargil district under the Prime Minister’s Special Development Package (SDP). The estimated cost for each unit is around Rs 8.79 crore. Dr Kotwal emphasised the importance of community participation and directed the formation of a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) or co-operative society comprising local apricot growers. He instructed that the growers be actively consulted to align the project with grassroots needs.
He also directed the Horticulture Department, in collaboration with the Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh, to develop a revised DPR adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model or Government-Owned Contractor-Operated (GOCO) model, similar to the Nimoo processing plant. He set a 15-day deadline for finalising the revised design and called for expediting the procurement process for two drying units. The Chief Secretary further directed the Industries Department to continue pursuing the procurement through the Cluster Development Programme (CDP) of the MSME Ministry, ensuring that all necessary formalities are completed at the earliest. He stressed the importance of involving entrepreneurial stakeholders to leverage their expertise in the sector. Dr Kotwal noted that the establishment of apricot drying units will significantly benefit local producers, as Ladakh is one of the largest apricot-producing regions in the country.
