Ladakh LG disburses Rs 1.10 crore incentive to over 1,200 Pashmina herders
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Sunday disbursed Rs 1.10 crore to more than 1,200 Pashmina goat herders as a production-based incentive, describing it
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Sunday disbursed Rs 1.10 crore to more than 1,200 Pashmina goat herders as a production-based incentive, describing it as a major step towards strengthening the Pashmina sector and supporting nomadic herders. The incentive, introduced for the first time, is aimed at raising the income of herders and improving the profitability and sustainability of the sector. Read Full Story The 25 per cent production-based incentive was announced after the first meeting of the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board last month. Speaking at the Changthang Nomadic Festival on the banks of Tso Moriri in Korzok, Saxena also announced a revolving fund of Rs 8 crore for the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Marketing Cooperative Society to ensure timely payments to growers. Saxena said the incentive had already led to a rise in the collection of raw Pashmina, with 19 tonnes gathered till July this year, compared with 16 tonnes in the whole of 2025. Under the scheme, Rs 1.10 crore has been transferred through direct benefit transfer to over 1,200 herders, mostly from Samad, Kharnak and Korzok villages in Changthang district, which is known to be the largest producer of Pashmina wool.
Herders in Samad received about Rs 44 lakh, while those in Kharnak and Korzok received Rs 28 lakh and Rs 23 lakh respectively, making up the largest share of the incentive. The Lieutenant Governor said 60 per cent of the incentive received by beneficiaries would be reinvested in scientific breeding of Pashmina goats, 20 per cent would go towards modern combing equipment and other infrastructure, and the remaining 20 per cent could be used for household and personal needs. He said this would help ensure the financial sustainability of herders. On the revolving fund, Saxena said it would help the cooperative society, which runs a Pashmina dehairing plant in Leh, make faster payments to growers for their produce. Under the arrangement, 50 per cent of the cost of Pashmina will be paid immediately to producers, while the remaining amount will be cleared within two months, ending earlier delays of eight to 10 months. Calling for wider use of scientific practices, Saxena urged herders to raise average fibre production from 200 grams per goat at present to at least 350 grams per goat.
He also encouraged an increase in the Pashmina goat population from around two lakh to at least four lakh over the next three years through scientific breeding. He stressed the need to improve the cleanliness and quality of raw Pashmina to reduce wastage and secure better prices. The Lieutenant Governor described Pashmina as a timeless heritage of Ladakh and the Changpa nomadic community, which he said had mastered goat rearing over centuries. He said the Changpa community was a living example of resilience, sustainability and harmonious coexistence with nature. He said, "Pashmina is not merely a product; it is part of Ladakh's cultural identity and the livelihood of thousands of our pastoral families. Our objective is to ensure that those who have preserved this heritage for generations, receive a greater share of its economic value." He added, "The Ladakh administration's decision of 25 per cent production-based incentive and the Rs 8-crore revolving fund is strengthening the Pashmina value chain and improving returns to nomadic pastoral communities." The Changthang Nomadic Festival drew more than 10,000 people, including a large number of foreign tourists.
The BriefWire