Leh: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, today inaugurated the Apricot Processing Plant at the Centre of Excellence of the Horticulture Department near Sangam in Nimoo
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson; Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal; Executive Councillors from LAHDC Leh- Ghulam Mehdi and Stanzin Chosphel and Advisor Umang Narula were also present on the occasion.
LG Mathur and other guests inspected the Apricot Processing Plant, where Director, Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Dr Anil Dutt Semwal, briefed about the Plant. The DFRL officials also demonstrated the working of the Apricot Processing Plant. LG Mathur also visited the sea buckthorn orchard.
The Apricot Processing Plant is a joint initiative between UT Administration and Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) to demonstrate complete supply chain management of apricot, including post-harvest management through the expertise of DRDO’s Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR) and DFRL.
The Plant is equipped with sorting and grading line, pre-processing line for fresh fruit, dehydration and vacuum drying of fruit, pulp/puree/jam/ready-to-serve (RTS) beverage line, fruit canning line, apricot seed extraction line, cold room, blow molding machine, diesel generator, effluent treatment plant, boiler and water purification system, etc.
The Plant is aimed at reducing fruit wastage, improving value addition, promoting crop diversification, ensuring a better return to the farmers, promoting employment and increasing export earnings.
Elected representatives, including Councillors; Director, DIHAR, Dr Om Prakash Chaurasia; Director, Horticulture Department, Mohd Yousuf Dhar; Chief Horticulture Officer, Tsewang Phuntsog; government officials and officials from DRDO, DIHAR, DFRL and Horticulture Department were present during the event.
