Leh, Feb 10: A review meeting of the District Cooperative Development Committee (DCDC) was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADDC) Leh, Sonam Nurboo, at the Mini Conference Hall of the DC Office to assess progress of cooperative initiatives and review decisions taken in earlier meetings.
During the meeting, Rigzin Angchuk from the Cooperative Department presented a detailed PowerPoint presentation outlining the action plan and progress achieved across various cooperative sectors in the district. The presentation covered dairy development, the role of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in fair price distribution of petrol and diesel, modernisation of cooperative by-laws and action taken reports.
The report highlighted several initiatives, including plantation drives under the “One Plant in the Name of Mother” campaign, promotion of orchard-to-market linkages, strengthening of dairy cooperatives, procurement of fertilisers through cooperative channels and expansion of cooperative societies. It also discussed the seven pillars of Ladakh cooperatives, the requirement of a State Cooperative Bank for the Union Territory and challenges faced by the sector.
The committee deliberated on the need for better coordination among departments to strengthen marketing avenues for cooperative products. Discussions were also held on reviving traditional fodder and crops such as buckwheat and barley and developing appropriate marketing strategies for these indigenous products.
The meeting proposed the establishment of cooperative-run outlets for local products including Seabuckthorn, barley and other organic produce. ADDC Sonam Nurboo suggested setting up a dedicated cooperative outlet at the upcoming Leh airport to promote and market organic Ladakhi products to tourists and visitors.
He also stressed the need to enhance awareness among cooperative members regarding laws and principles governing cooperative societies and emphasised the importance of involving educated unemployed youth in cooperative ventures. He said interest-based cooperative groups could provide youth with sustainable livelihood opportunities through collective enterprise models.
The meeting discussed extending financial support through NABARD and cooperative loan facilities to strengthen youth-led initiatives. It was proposed to conduct targeted awareness and capacity-building programmes for youth, likely to be implemented by the first or second week of March 2026.
In his concluding remarks, the ADDC highlighted the importance of coordinated departmental efforts to strengthen the cooperative ecosystem in Leh district. He stressed that cooperative initiatives can play a vital role in promoting sustainable livelihoods, reviving traditional agricultural practices and ensuring inclusive economic development in UT Ladakh.
The meeting was attended by heads and representatives of various departments, including the Chief Agriculture Officer Leh, Chief Horticulture Officer Leh, Deputy Registrar Cooperative Societies Leh, Assistant Director FCS&CA Leh, Assistant Director Fisheries Leh, Depot Manager FCI, representatives of NDDB, Milk Federation Cooperative Societies Leh, Fishery Union Leh and other stakeholders.
