Grape cultivation expands in Ladakh with new initiative

Ladakh, Sept 24: Ladakh’s high-altitude region is set to witness an expansion in grape cultivation through a collaborative effort between ICAR-NRC Grapes, Pune, and Mountain Agriculture Research and Extension Station (MAR&ES), Kargil, along with the School of Agriculture Science and Technology (SAS&T), University of Ladakh.
An awareness-cum-training program, organized by ICAR-NRC Grapes on September 2, 2024, at Garkon village, introduced local horticulture farmers to grape farming. The initiative aims to diversify the region’s agricultural portfolio, traditionally focused on other crops. Dr. Faizan Ahmad, Chief Scientist and Head of SAS&T, Kargil, and Dr. Sharmistha Naik, Scientist at ICAR-NRC Grapes, assured the farmers of comprehensive technical support for this new venture.
Following the training session, a preliminary survey of the region was conducted by a team of scientists to assess the feasibility of grape cultivation. On September 4, 2024, commercial grapevines were planted at MAR&ES, Kargil, signaling the project’s first step toward commercial grape farming in the area.
The farmers expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, recognizing the potential of viticulture to enhance their crop diversity, nutritional security, and income. ICAR-NRC Grapes Director Dr. Kaushik Banerjee confirmed plans to formalize the collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Ladakh, aiming to boost the income of Ladakh’s farmers through grape cultivation.