Day 3 Observed at Chumathang and Keray with Active Farmer Participation
Leh: The third day of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyaan was conducted successfully in the remote villages of Chumathang and Keray in the Changthang region on Sunday.
The campaign witnessed enthusiastic participation from local farmers and community members, who engaged with officials and shared their agricultural concerns and experiences.
The event was attended by Thinley Norboo, Councillor of the Kyungyam Constituency, who encouraged the villagers to make full use of the campaign and assured them of continued departmental support in addressing the challenges faced by the farming community.
Officials and scientists from KVK Nyoma and departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Sheep Husbandry, and Animal Husbandry participated in the programme, highlighting the importance of the national campaign in promoting sustainable development suited to the cold desert region of Ladakh.
As part of the outreach, departments gave detailed presentations on relevant government schemes and shared knowledge on region-specific farming practices.
Demonstrations were also conducted on compost-making and the benefits of compost marketing to improve farm income.
Discussions were held on the steady decline in sheep rearing in the Rong region, with a focus on the need for renewed support to preserve this traditional livelihood. The Horticulture Department announced plans to introduce trial plantations of fruit saplings in the area to test their viability and potential benefits for local farmers.
A special focus was also placed on promoting rural entrepreneurship among women, especially in the tourism-driven areas of Changthang, through training programmes in baking, pickle-making, and other value-addition activities.
More than sixty participants, including farmers, officials, and local leaders from Chumathang and Skidmang, took part in the event.
During the interactive session, farmers raised pressing issues such as aphid infestations in potato crops, pest attacks on leafy vegetables, and shortage of cattle feed. Councillor Thinley Norboo appreciated their active involvement and assured that the concerns would be taken up through coordinated efforts by the concerned departments.
Later in the evening, a follow-up session was held at Keray village under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan.
The programme saw the participation of 52 individuals representing the villages of Kesser, Nee, Keray, and Srheyul.
The event was attended by officials from KVK Nyoma, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Sheep Husbandry Departments. Key government schemes such as PM-KISAN, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), and IWDP CCS were explained to the farmers.
Participants raised demands for subsidized horticultural inputs, greenhouse support, mulching facilities, formation of Farmer Producer Organisations, and repair of the traditional water mill (Rantak) used in the region.
Thinley Norboo, who also attended the evening session, reiterated the importance of coordinated action among all departments to ensure the holistic development of the villages.
He urged villagers to stay engaged with the campaign and continue participating actively to shape a better future for the farming community in Changthang.
