Ladakh sets up Pashmina development board to empower Changpa herders

In line with his commitment to strengthen one of Ladakh’s most valuable natural and cultural assets – Pashmina, Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, on Wednesday approved the setting up of “Ladakh Pashmina Development Board (LPDB)”. The Board is the country’s first dedicated body to promote Ladakhi Pashmina globally, thereby transforming the Pashmina value chain and empowering the pastoral communities.

The establishment of the Board marks a significant milestone in the UT Administration’s efforts to build a robust and sustainable ecosystem around Ladakh Pashmina, renowned globally as one of the world’s finest and most luxurious natural fibres.

Ladakh is estimated to have nearly 2 lakh Pashmina goats. Establishment of the Board is also aimed at increasing the number of Pashmina goats, thereby enhancing the income of the pastoral communities. It will also create new employment opportunities in the textile and handicrafts sector, increase value addition within Ladakh and reduce dependence on intermediaries.

“Ladakh Pashmina is not merely a fibre; it is an enduring symbol of Ladakh’s cultural heritage, pastoral traditions and resilience. The constitution of the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board is a historic step towards ensuring that our nomadic communities receive the benefits they rightfully deserve and that Ladakh emerges as the global hub of authentic and premium Pashmina products. Our goal is to create an integrated, sustainable and globally competitive Pashmina ecosystem that safeguards livelihoods while preserving Ladakh’s unique identity,” said Saxena.

Recognising the need for an overarching institutional mechanism to strengthen the entire Pashmina value chain and create sustainable market linkages, the Board has been envisaged to guide, supervise and augment available resources for the holistic development of the Pashmina sector in Ladakh.

The Board will work to transform raw Ladakhi Pashmina into a premium, high-value product, improve market returns, and maximise benefits for all stakeholders, particularly the nomadic Changpa herders, who face some of the harshest living conditions and are the primary producers of raw Pashmina.

The newly constituted Board comprises two principal bodies – the Governing Body, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, and the Executive Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh. The Governing Body will provide overall strategic direction for the development of the Pashmina sector, approve long-term vision documents, policies, major projects and infrastructure initiatives, and facilitate convergence among government departments, financial institutions and industry stakeholders. It will also guide global branding, certification, export promotion and sustainability initiatives for the sector.

As part of its programme architecture, the Board will implement the Ladakh Pashmina Mission with a focus on improving the productivity and genetic quality of Changthangi goats, strengthening high-altitude rangelands through climate adaptation strategies, establishing local processing infrastructure, promoting artisan clusters and positioning Ladakh Pashmina as a premium luxury fibre in global markets through certification systems, digital traceability mechanisms and participation in international trade fairs.