The Ladakh administration’s decision to ban the sale and use of chemical fertilisers marks a significant step toward its ambition to become India’s first fully organic Union Territory, according to a report in The Hindu BusinessLine. However, as the move is hailed for sustainable agriculture, farmers say the success depends on one critical factor: the availability of organic manure.
The Ban and Organic Certification Timeline
The ban, announced by LG VK Saxena last week, aligns with Ladakh’s long-term plan to promote natural farming and preserve the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The Union Territory has already brought 207 revenue villages under organic certification and, under the Mission Organic Development Initiative (MODI) launched in 2020, aims to convert all 666 villages into certified organic hubs. The ₹500-crore initiative includes support for bio-fertiliser production, seed distribution, protected cultivation and marketing of organic produce.
Impact on a Wide Range of Crops
Ladakh’s farmers cultivate diverse crops suited to its high-altitude, cold-desert climate. Staple crops include barley, wheat, peas, buckwheat, foxtail millet, and mustard seed. Vegetable cultivation includes cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, onion, carrot, potato, radish, turnip, and various green leafy vegetables. The region is also known for its horticulture, producing apricots, apples, walnuts, pears, grapes, and mulberries. With chemical fertilisers now banned, the organic transition will directly affect yields and quality across this entire range of crops.
Farmer Concerns Over Manure Shortage
For many farmers, the challenge lies not in adopting organic farming but in finding enough manure. Before chemical fertilisers were introduced in the 1980s, farming in Ladakh was entirely organic. Tashi Namgyal, a farmer from Leh, said, “We used cow dung and even compost from traditional dry toilets to fertilise our fields.” He noted that these traditional sources have diminished: “Livestock numbers have declined, and many households have replaced dry toilets with modern sanitation systems. That has reduced the availability of organic manure, making it difficult for farmers to meet their requirements.”
Stanzin Phungchok, another farmer, said traditional dry toilets now survive mostly in remote villages. “Village heads submit the requirement for organic manure to the authorities, and cooperatives supply it to farmers at subsidised rates. The system is helping, but livestock-based compost is declining, and that remains a concern.”
Government Support Programs
In 2020, officials earmarked ₹50 crore under MODI for developing the organic value chain and ₹125.54 crore for protected cultivation, including subsidised greenhouses. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in Leh also offered incentives to encourage sustainable farming practices.
Key Data Points at a Glance
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Villages under organic certification | 207 out of 666 |
| Mission Organic Development Initiative (MODI) budget | ₹500 crore total |
| Budget for organic value chain | ₹50 crore |
| Budget for protected cultivation | ₹125.54 crore |
| Key crops affected | Barley, wheat, peas, buckwheat, vegetables, apricots, apples |
Outlook
Agriculture experts say the fertiliser ban could strengthen Ladakh’s brand as a producer of premium organic crops, but only if the administration can ensure a reliable supply of organic inputs. Without expanding compost production, bio-fertiliser units and livestock-based manure availability, the Union Territory’s ambitious organic transition could face its toughest challenge in the fields rather than on paper, the report concluded.
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