Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared an article by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, highlighting how entrepreneurship and value addition are creating new economic opportunities in Ladakh through the processing of sea buckthorn, a berry native to the region.
Sharing the article on X, the Prime Minister said the story of sea buckthorn reflects India’s efforts to promote local products and strengthen rural economies.
“A berry native to Ladakh is scripting a story of innovation and opportunity. A compelling reflection by Union Minister Shri Chirag Paswan on how entrepreneurship and value addition are unlocking new avenues of prosperity in Ladakh! An insightful read on how we are advancing ‘Vocal to Local for global’,” PM Modi said.
In his article, Paswan described how food processing initiatives in remote areas of Ladakh are helping local communities generate income and create sustainable enterprises. Drawing from his recent visit to Tirith village in the Nubra Valley, he highlighted how local entrepreneurs are overcoming geographical and climatic challenges by processing sea buckthorn closer to the source.
The minister noted that sea buckthorn, known for its nutritional and medicinal value, presents both opportunities and challenges due to its short harvest window and highly perishable nature. Local processing facilities have enabled farmers and entrepreneurs to preserve the fruit and market value-added products such as juice, pulp, dried berries and jams.
Paswan particularly highlighted the success story of entrepreneur Deachen Angmo, who transformed her life from earning a modest income as a wage labourer to running K-Top Food Processing, a multi-crore enterprise focused on sea buckthorn products. Through support received under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, she was able to access finance and invest in modern processing equipment.
The minister said Angmo’s enterprise now sources berries from local collectors, creates employment opportunities and supplies products to markets beyond Ladakh, demonstrating the transformative potential of food processing in remote regions.
He also highlighted the impact of the PMFME scheme in Ladakh. So far, 101 loans have been sanctioned for micro food processing units in the Union Territory, with 89 already disbursed. Additionally, seed capital assistance amounting to ₹1.81 crore has been approved for 651 members of self-help groups.
To strengthen the sector further, common incubation centres for sea buckthorn processing in Leh and apricot processing in Kargil have been approved under the scheme. These facilities are expected to provide shared infrastructure for storage, testing, packaging and value addition, making food processing more accessible to small producers.
Paswan also noted that branding initiatives such as “Wonder Berry” for sea buckthorn products and “Kargil Gold” for apricot products are helping improve market visibility and create stronger identities for Ladakh’s agricultural produce.
Emphasising the broader significance of such initiatives, the minister said the objective is not only to celebrate individual success stories but also to replicate similar models across remote regions of the country. He added that empowering local entrepreneurs through finance, infrastructure and institutional support can generate employment, strengthen rural economies and unlock the untapped potential of indigenous products.
