Zanskar, November 19, 2025:
Despite harsh winter conditions and remote terrain, KVK Kargil–II successfully facilitated farmers, women farmers, and rural youth of Zangla village to join the national live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address during the release of the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN. The event was organised in sync with programmes conducted across ICAR institutions, KVKs, and agricultural universities nationwide. Officers from the Agriculture Department were also present.
The programme began at 11 am with an in-depth interaction between KVK scientists and line department officials on agro-climatic technologies developed for Zanskar over the last eight years.
Dr. Mohd Mehdi, Chief Scientist & Head, KVK Kargil–II, highlighted successful demonstrations of non-traditional vegetables such as onion, French bean, cabbage, cauliflower, and various root crops—stressing their potential to uplift the socio-economic conditions of tribal farmers. He underlined that skill and scientific knowledge must complement hard work, urging farmers to stay connected with KVK experts through visits and digital communication.
Dr. Shabeer Hussain, Scientist, emphasised the importance of soil health management, natural farming, crop rotation, and surface mulching. He noted that Ladakh’s organic farming potential can be fully realised only if scientific practices are followed consistently, warning against reliance on substandard purchased compost.
Mohd Ali, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, briefed participants on available government schemes and encouraged them to seek support from field offices. He highlighted that both variants of Ladakh Greenhouses offer viable opportunities for livelihood enhancement and improved household nutrition.
An interactive session allowed farmers to consult experts directly.
Namberdar Zangla, Lobzang Tundup, expressed gratitude to KVK Kargil–II, noting that the event provided rare exposure to modern agricultural practices, especially given Zangla’s difficult connectivity with Padum. He urged farmers to maintain continuous engagement with agriculture and KVK teams.
The programme concluded at 2 pm with the live telecast from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, marking the nationwide release of the PM-KISAN instalment.
