Leh, Ladakh has the potential to become a global hub for finest pashmina wool, Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena on Sunday said and stressed the need to maximize returns to farmers and artisans through value addition and improved market access.
To promote and enhance Ladakhi Pashmina and position it as a global brand, Saxena visited the Pashmina Goat Farm in Upshi.
A Lok Bhavan spokesperson said the visit reiterated the administration’s commitment to making Ladakh a major hub for world-class pashmina wool.
Pointing out that Ladakh has huge potential to emerge as a global hub for pashmina, Saxena assured the administration’s full support to promote Ladakhi pashmina as a globally recognized brand.
Emphasizing the need to ensure better value for local farmers and artisans, he stressed the importance of reducing raw wool waste and using by-products for value-added goods.
Improved processing, branding, new design interventions and market linkages for Ladakhi Pashmina products will not only strengthen local artisans and businesses but also secure higher income for farmers and self-help groups, he said.
During the visit, Saxena was told that Ladakh is home to some of the finest pashmina wool in the world, famous for its exceptional softness and superior quality.
The spokesman said he was informed that there are three pashmina farms across Ladakh, with the Abeshi farm alone producing around 150 kg of raw pashmina annually.
The wool is extracted through traditional carding technique and is then processed at a hair removal plant in Leh, where approximately 35 per cent soft dehaired pashmina is obtained from one kilogram of raw wool, the spokesperson said.
The average fiber diameter ranges between 13 and 15 microns, while pashmina fibers made from young goats are up to 12 microns long, making them among the most luxurious natural fibers in the world.
The farm, which has more than 50,000 willow and poplar trees and about 2,000 quintals of alfalfa fodder, is a major green area in Ladakh.
Emphasizing on its potential to be developed as a unique tourist destination, Saxena demanded guided tours to educate visitors about authentic Ladakhi Pashmina and dispel misinformation in the market.
He called for setting up visitor-friendly facilities, including a canteen, to offer a complete experiential visit, besides directing to integrate the farm into the tourism circuit of Ladakh and modernize the existing infrastructure.
The president also visited Changlok Breeding Farm and Intensive Fodder Development Farm in Stakna, and reviewed ongoing efforts to enhance livestock and fodder resources in the region, the spokesman said.
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