Union Territory Ladakh comprises of Leh and Kargil districts, spread over to an area 59196 square kilometers i.e. Leh, 45110 square kilometers and Kargil, 14086 square kilometers. Being high mountain region is characterized by a rugged topography at an average altitude of over 3000 meter above sea level, although certain areas are as high as 5000-5900 meters above sea level. The region is characterized by extreme temperature variations, low precipitation in the form of snow, high wind velocity, sparse plant density, thin atmosphere with high UV-radiation and fragile ecosystem. The temperature often drops down to –30 centigrade in winter. Long harsh winter reduce the cropping season to just four to five months in a year.
Kargil District as a whole has a long tradition of growing horticulture produce unique to its Geo climate condition. Apricot is the most important and popular crops with halman, Raktsay Karpo, Narmo and Khantey as main local cultivators, spread over as estimated area of 1674.70 hectares with an annual production estimated as 9834.81 MT. Next to apricot is the Apple crop with Karkichu, Mangol, tha etc as the main local cultivators, although several, new cultivators viz red delicious, golden delicious, royal delicious etc too have been introduced and are coming upto the expectation of masses. The area of under Apple is 376.25 hectares with annual production of 1917.66 MT. Department efforts and farmer initiatives in the past few decades has led to increase in production of Apricot and Apple, several few varieties of delicious apple have introduced and are being successfully grown, at the same times horticulture production has expanded to the other areas of the Kargil District. More over intervention of improved technologies and initiative of value addition has led to the increase in returns to the fruit growers. In an attempt to increase the productivity of the fruit crops, high density plantations have been introduced by the department in the regions to boost the economy.
Keeping in view the climate, altitude as well as the scattered villages, The main focus on the unique characteristic of the district, its diverse climate and its potential for cultivating high value crops like Apricot, Seabuckthorn and Apple to enhance the livelihoods of farmers by providing modern farming techniques, subsidies and market access for horticultural produce.
Apricot is the main fruit generally grown in these region and other fruits such as Apple, Grapes Walnut, Almond, Peach, Seabuckthorn etc are also grown. The dried Apricot popularly Known as Phating (Halman) is generally grown in these belt and in recent years fresh and dried fruits are also shipped to other state of India and contributing to the economic growth of the region.
