Leh, July 5: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena has announced two major decisions to strengthen the Union Territory’s globally renowned Pashmina sector and improve the livelihoods of nomadic herders.
Chairing the first meeting of the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board, the Lieutenant Governor approved a 25% production-based incentive under the Livestock Development Incentive Programme. The incentive will be paid over and above the government procurement price of raw Pashmina, aiming to enhance herders’ income, profitability and long-term sustainability.
The Board also approved an ₹8 crore revolving fund to ensure timely payments to Pashmina producers. Under the new mechanism, 50% of the cost of raw Pashmina will be paid upfront by the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Cooperative Marketing Society (ACPGCMS), while the remaining amount will be released within two months, replacing the earlier payment cycle that often stretched between eight and ten months.
As per the approved framework, 60% of the production incentive will be reinvested in livestock improvement and scientific breeding, 20% will be utilised for modern combing equipment and related infrastructure, while the remaining 20% can be used by herders for household and personal financial needs.
The Lieutenant Governor also set an ambitious target to double Ladakh’s Pashmina goat population from two lakh to four lakh within three years and increase the average Pashmina yield from 200 grams to 350 grams per goat through scientific breeding and advanced combing technology.
The initiatives are expected to make Pashmina goat rearing more profitable, improve the socio-economic condition of nomadic communities and further establish Ladakh as a global leader in the production of premium, ethically sourced Pashmina.
