LEH — The Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh chaired the third meeting of the State Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC) in Leh to evaluate the progress of cooperative institutions and strategize the strengthening of the sector across the region. A primary focus of the session was the comprehensive assessment of new Multi-Purpose Agriculture Cooperative Societies (M-PACS) and the expansion of cooperative networks within the Leh and Kargil districts. In partnership with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the committee reviewed progress on Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and proposed the creation of additional Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to improve grassroots financial inclusion and institutional credit access.
The committee conducted a rigorous review of PACS functioning as Common Service Centres (CSCs), addressing operational hurdles such as low activation levels and the necessity for enhanced capacity building. Significant updates were provided regarding the revival of non-functional societies in Kargil, with a strategic action plan now in place for the revival or liquidation of remaining inactive entities. To tackle regional challenges, the meeting highlighted the need for improved cold storage, food processing infrastructure, and modern irrigation systems to mitigate the impact of the region’s heavy dependence on glacial meltwater.
Sectoral improvements in dairy development were also a major agenda item. Discussions covered procurement mechanisms, the installation of bulk milk coolers, and the establishment of milk testing laboratories to modernize scientific dairy practices. The Chief Secretary emphasized the promotion of vermicompost fertilizers via urban development cooperatives and urged the adoption of successful local models. He directed departments to design structured training for dairy farmers and called for an integrated value chain model to be replicated throughout the territory. Furthermore, the committee deliberated on the roadmap for establishing a dedicated State Cooperative Bank for Ladakh, examining regulatory requirements and statutory approvals.
The meeting was attended by Administrative Secretary Bhupesh Chaudhary, Deputy Commissioner Leh Romil Singh Donk, Deputy Commissioner Kargil Rakesh Kumar, Director Tourism Tsering Palden, and various senior officials, including representatives from NABARD who participated virtually.
