(file photo) Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena
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In a bid to strengthen the Pashmina industry in the Himalayan cold desert of Ladakh and improve the incomes of nomadic herders, the Union Territory administration has approved a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and created a revolving fund for the sector.The decisions were taken at the first meeting of the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.Among the key measures approved is a 25 per cent production-based incentive for Pashmina herders under the Livestock Development Incentive Programme. According to a statement issued by the Saxena, the incentive will be paid in addition to the procurement price of raw Pashmina offered by the government, with the administration stating that the move is intended to enhance the profitability and long-term sustainability of Pashmina goat rearing.The statement said the Board also approved an ₹8-crore revolving fund to ensure timely payments to herders. New arrangementUnder the new arrangement, the All Changthang Pashmina Growers’ Cooperative Marketing Society (ACPGCMS) will make an upfront payment of 50 per cent of the procurement cost, while the remaining amount will be released within two months. Officials said the mechanism is designed to address delays of eight to ten months that herders had previously experienced in receiving payments.According to the approved framework, 60 per cent of the production incentive will be earmarked for livestock improvement and scientific breeding, while 20 per cent will be utilised for procuring modern combing equipment and related infrastructure. The remaining 20 per cent may be used by herders for household and other personal financial needs.The administration has also set a target of doubling Ladakh’s Pashmina goat population from about two lakh to four lakh over the next three years. It aims to raise the average Pashmina yield from around 200 grams per goat to 350 grams through scientific breeding practices and the adoption of advanced combing tools.The statement said the measures are expected to improve the economic prospects of nomadic pastoral communities while enhancing the quality and production of Ladakh’s Pashmina, which is regarded as one of the finest natural fibres in the world.Published on July 5, 2026
