Dr Jigmet Stobdan and Dr Stanzin Mantok
Ladakh, being located in the high-altitude region of theTrans-Himalaya, has agricultural practices that are peculiar compared to those in other regions worldwide. The region is popularly known for its elevated terrain and rugged landscape, with temperatures consistently remaining cold throughout the year, ranging from -30 degrees Celsius at night in winter to 35 degrees Celsius in the peak summer months. The region experiences minimal precipitation, with an average annual rainfall of just 80 mm. These severe climatic conditions contribute to the isolation of Ladakh and restrict agricultural activities to an average of six months a year. Additionally, the variety of crops that can be cultivated is limited. As a result, agricultural scientists and research institutes based in Ladakh have emphasised the practice of protected cultivation (greenhouse), which is seen as an innovative and sustainable technological solution to these challenges.
Existing studies and experiments support the adoption of protected cultivation, highlighting its suitability for crop production under extreme weather conditions by providing a controlled environment. The concept of protected cultivation, particularly through greenhouses, was introduced in Ladakh in 1964 at DIHAR, formerly known as the Field Research Laboratory, to enable vegetable cultivation during the harsh winter months. Subsequently, several non-Governmental organisations, including the Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG), GERES, SKUAST, and the Leh Nutrition Project (LNP), have been instrumental in promoting passive solar greenhouses and have implemented various design and structural modifications. However, these greenhouses have faced adoption challenges due to issues such as the frequent need for cladding material replacement, limited durability, insufficient thermal insulation, and the fragility of glass. In view the above-mentioned challenges in solar greenhouses, DIHAR developed a passive solar greenhouse, known as the Ladakh Greenhouse, and after successful field trials, the technology was transferred to the agriculture department of the Union Territory of Ladakh in 2020.
After the transfer of Ladakh Greenhouse technology to the agriculture department, around 3,500 Ladakh Greenhouses have been built on the farmers’ land with the help of a subsidy component by LAHDC Leh and Kargil. In a recent study involving 464 beneficiaries across all regions of Leh and Kargil, the Ladakh Greenhouse scheme was highly appreciated by almost all beneficiaries,primarily due to the ability of the technology to grow variety of vegetables in a shorter span of time and possibility of vegetable cultivation even during peak winter thereby reducing expenses on vegetables on the one hand and sustainable source income generation for farmers on the other hand.
The majority of the beneficiaries reported their annual earnings upto Rs. 50,000, with some earning as much as Rs. 1,50,000 from a single Ladakh Greenhouse. Those beneficiaries who own large-sized Ladakh Greenhouses reported earning upto Rs. 2,50,000 annually. The beneficiaries view the Ladakh Greenhouse as an effective means to attain the goals of Ladakh’s Atma Nirbhar in vegetable production and doubling farmers’ income. More than 90% of beneficiaries found Ladakh Greenhouse to be a good and effective step in offering a new or additional source of income for farmers in Ladakh. While narrating her experience, a lady beneficiary in Akchamal Kargil says, “If I get one more large-sized Ladakh Greenhouse, our family can entirely depend on it to meet our family expenditures. I meet my family’s daily expenditure from the revenue generated from my Ladakh Greenhouse”. Similarly, another lady respondent from Shey village states, “From money earned by selling vegetables grown in Ladakh Greenhouse, I earn income equivalent to that of some average Government employee; I meet all kitchen-related expenses in my home. I decide how to run our home and kitchen. I feel empowered as I am not financially dependent on my husband”.
Nine out of every ten beneficiaries observed a significant and drastic decrease in imported vegetable purchases and family expenditure on vegetables, signalling substantial financial savings for the beneficiaries. The majority of the beneficiaries reported cultivating non-leafy vegetables apart from routine leafy vegetables in the Ladakh Greenhouse. Moreover, around three-fourths of the beneficiaries successfully grew cash crops like strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, brinjals, watermelon, capsicum, ladyfingers, pomegranate, etc.,to generate income, and this new source of income has helped them to minimise the financial burdens, thereby enhancing their living standards. The subsidy assistance provided by the LAHDCs for constructing the Ladakh Greenhouse has significantly reduced the financial burden on farmers. Nearly all respondents found the Ladakh Greenhouse scheme extremely beneficial for Ladakhi society and expressed their willingness to recommend it to others, identifying subsidy as a crucial factor in the scheme’s success by lowering entry barriers and promoting adoption, thus justifying sustained or increased funding to maintain the momentum.
Almost all beneficiaries consider the Ladakh Greenhouse scheme as a promising avenue for additional income generation among farmers in Ladakh and a concerted effort on the part of the local Government to achieve the goals of doubling farmers’ income and Ladakh’s Atmanirbharta in vegetable production.
(The authors are Assistant Professors, University of Ladakh)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
