LEH, SEPT 17: Ladakh has taken a significant step towards agricultural diversification and creation of new livelihood opportunities with the inauguration of two high-altitude flower fields at Choglamsar and Stakna in Leh.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inaugurated the flower fields on the occasion of Sewa Diwas, observed to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The project, spread across nearly 40 acres, features more than 25 lakh high-value flowers, comprising 24 lakh Lilium and one lakh Gladiolus.
According to LG Saxena, the two flower fields are the world’s highest-altitude flower fields and are also the highest and largest flower fields in the country.
The project has been completed in a record period of just two months, marking a major expansion of high-value floriculture in the high-altitude region.
In a post on X, Saxena said the initiative was conceived in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of empowering farmers and enhancing their income through agricultural diversification.
He said the project would provide an alternative avenue for farmers to move beyond conventional agricultural activities and explore high-value floriculture.
The newly developed facility is also envisaged as a training centre for progressive farmers, where modern technology will be integrated with traditional farming practices.
The objective is to provide farmers with practical exposure to contemporary floriculture techniques and encourage wider adoption of innovative agricultural practices in Ladakh.
Saxena said the initiative would also create opportunities for the region’s youth to explore floriculture-based entrepreneurship, potentially opening new avenues in cultivation, nursery development, flower production and related activities.
Highlighting the broader significance of the project, the LG said the flower fields at Choglamsar and Stakna represent Ladakh’s extraordinary resilience and demonstrate the potential to transform the region’s unique geographical conditions into opportunities for sustainable economic activity.
Beyond their visual appeal, the flower fields are expected to serve as a foundation for new livelihoods and local enterprise, linking agricultural innovation with economic development and environmental responsibility.
The initiative thus places floriculture among the emerging areas of agricultural diversification in Ladakh, with the newly established fields providing a platform for training, technology transfer and exploration of new income-generating opportunities for farmers and young entrepreneurs.
