In a major step aimed at strengthening local farmers and cooperatives, promoting border-area livelihoods and ensuring the supply of fresh produce to security personnel, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Wednesday between the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, North West Frontier, and the Department of Cooperatives, UT Ladakh.
The MoU will facilitate the procurement and supply of essential food items and allied products through local cooperative societies, Farmer Producer Organisations and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, thereby providing them assured market linkages for their products.
The MoU was signed by Deputy Inspector General, ITBP, Laxman Yadav, and Secretary, Cooperatives, UT Ladakh, Bhanu Prabha, in the presence of Lieutenant-Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena. The agreement has initially been signed for three years.
“The MoU is a major step towards overcoming the farmers’ challenge of finding a market for their products, which often leads to financial losses. It is aligned with the vision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has directed the Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces to procure local agricultural and handicraft products through cooperatives to generate employment and promote economic self-reliance in border regions. Under the arrangement, ITBP has earmarked an initial amount of Rs 21 lakh during the current financial year for the procurement of vegetables and allied products through registered cooperative societies, FPOs and PACS in Ladakh,” the L-G said.
Describing the initiative as a historic step, Lieutenant-Governor Saxena said the MoU would economically empower local cooperative institutions and the people of Ladakh, including those living in border areas, while also strengthening local supply chains.
“The Rs 21 lakh allocation by ITBP for the procurement of vegetables and allied products is a good beginning. This initiative will encourage farmers in border villages to cultivate more vegetables, improve their livelihoods and strengthen local economic activity. Greenhouses being developed under the Vibrant Village Programme will further help farmers increase vegetable production, which can directly supply fresh produce to ITBP personnel deployed in remote areas,” Saxena said.
The Lieutenant-Governor further said the initiative would also contribute to reverse migration in border villages by creating livelihood opportunities and strengthening rural economies.
The MoU establishes a structured institutional mechanism for the procurement of locally produced agricultural, horticultural, livestock and dairy products through cooperative institutions functioning under the administrative control of the Additional Registrar, Cooperative Societies, UT Ladakh.
The arrangement is expected to create assured market linkages for local producers and strengthen the financial sustainability of cooperative institutions operating in remote areas.
