LEH: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved two landmark initiatives to strengthen Ladakh’s world-renowned Pashmina industry and improve the livelihoods of the Changpa nomadic pastoral community.
During the first meeting of the newly constituted Ladakh Pashmina Development Board (LPDB), the Lieutenant Governor approved the Livestock Development Incentive Programme, introducing a 25 per cent top-up incentive on the total procurement value of raw Pashmina for eligible herders. The incentive will be transferred directly to beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
The policy also mandates that 60 per cent of the incentive be utilised for livestock improvement and scientific breeding, 20 per cent for infrastructure development such as improved combing equipment, while the remaining 20 per cent can be used by herders for household needs.
The Lieutenant Governor also approved an ₹8 crore Revolving Fund for the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Cooperative Marketing Society Ltd. (ACPGCMS) to facilitate direct procurement of raw Pashmina from herders and ensure timely payments.
Under the new system, herders will receive 50 per cent of the procurement amount upfront, with the remaining payment to be made within two months, replacing the earlier delay of eight to ten months that often forced pastoral families to borrow money.
The administration has also set a target of increasing the Changthangi Pashmina goat population from nearly two lakh to four lakh over the next three years. It also aims to enhance raw Pashmina production from the current average of 200 grams per goat to at least 350 grams through scientific breeding and improved livestock management practices.
Addressing the meeting, Vinai Kumar Saxena said the Changpa community is the custodian of one of Ladakh’s greatest natural and cultural assets, and the administration is committed to securing their livelihoods while preserving the region’s unique pastoral heritage.
He said the Livestock Development Incentive Programme and the Revolving Fund together would strengthen the entire Pashmina value chain by improving productivity, ensuring assured procurement, eliminating distress sales and exploitation by middlemen, and positioning Ladakh as a global leader in the production of premium-quality, ethically sourced Pashmina.
The decisions were taken after detailed consultations with Changpa herders, cooperative societies, designers, industry experts and other stakeholders associated with the Pashmina sector.
