Kargil Ladakh Apricot Cold Desert Cooperative

Kargil district in Ladakh is the second-largest producer of apricots in India after Leh, growing Turkish, halman, and local namra varieties in cold-desert villages along the Suru and Dras river valleys. Villages like Sankoo, Kargil town, and Drass grow apricots on terraced stone walls irrigated from snowmelt channels. Families dry apricots on flat stones and pack them in gunny sacks for sale at Kargil market. Cooperative women societies process apricot kernels for oil, which is used as a cooking medium and skin emollient. NABARD has funded cooperative drying tunnel facilities in Kargil to reduce post-harvest losses from erratic weather. Kargil apricot cooperative is connected with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council for premium packaging support.