Ladakh scripted a new chapter in its horticultural journey on Wednesday as Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena flagged off the first 5-metric-tonne consignment of premium apricots to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), paving the way for exports of over 1,000 metric tonnes this season and promising higher incomes for local farmers.
The initiative marks the beginning of Ladakh’s largest-ever fresh apricot export programme and is expected to significantly enhance farmers’ incomes while establishing Ladakh as a global supplier of premium-quality organic apricots.
The export has been facilitated under an MoU signed in April 2026 between the Ladakh Administration and the UAE-based global retail conglomerate Lulu Retail through APEDA, which envisages the export of over 1,000 metric tonnes of fresh apricots during the current harvest season. This is a monumental leap from the mere 1,500 KG of apricots exported during the previous two years, making it one of the most significant milestones in Ladakh’s horticultural history.
Apricots, being fragile and perishable, require to be stored and transported in temperatures from zero degrees to 4 degrees. Keeping this in view, the Ladakh Administration, with support from CONCOR, ensured the shipment of Apricots from Ladakh using cold-chain transportation so as to maintain the freshness of the fruits.
The flagship export initiative focuses on ‘Raktsey Karpo’ and ‘Halman’, Ladakh’s indigenous apricot varieties, internationally recognised for their exceptional sweetness, rich flavour, superior nutritional value and completely organic cultivation. Grown under Ladakh’s unique high-altitude climatic conditions, abundant sunshine and pristine environment, the variety is regarded among the finest apricots in the world and has witnessed increasing demand in international markets.
Speaking on the occasion, L-G Saxena said that the export of the first consignment marked the beginning of a new era for Ladakh’s horticulture sector and reflected the Administration’s commitment to connecting local farmers directly with global markets.
“This export initiative is a historic moment for Ladakh, its horticulture sector and, above all, our hardworking farmers. The flagging off of the first export consignment of Ladakh apricots to the UAE marks the beginning of Ladakh’s journey towards becoming a global horticulture export hub”, said Saxena.
Notably, the farmers had traditionally faced considerable challenges in harvesting, sorting, grading, cleaning, packaging and marketing their produce, often resulting in significant post-harvest losses and reduced returns. But under the new arrangement with Lulu Retail, farmers would simply hand over their orchards to the export agency at the time of harvest, following which the company would undertake the entire value chain – from plucking, sorting to grading, processing, packaging and transporting it to international markets.