LuLu Group International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Territory administration of Ladakh to procure and export over 1,000 metric tonnes of the region’s famed apricots to international markets, marking a major push to globalize Ladakhi horticulture.
The initiative represents a sharp scale-up for the region, which exported just 1,500 kg of apricots over the past two years. The exports will primarily include the GI-tagged “Raktsey Karpo” and the region-specific “Halman” varieties, known for their premium quality.
The agreement has been facilitated in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Under the MoU, LuLu Group will handle end-to-end operations—from procurement and harvesting to processing, packaging, transportation, and international marketing—while preserving Ladakh’s regional identity.
Officials said the move is designed to ease the burden on farmers, who traditionally manage labor-intensive processes such as sorting, cleaning, and packaging, often leading to delays and post-harvest losses. By transferring these responsibilities to the exporter at the harvest stage, the initiative aims to improve efficiency and ensure better price realization for growers.
Vinai Kumar Saxena, who has been actively promoting the branding and export of Ladakhi produce, described the MoU as a “historic” step toward unlocking the region’s untapped agricultural potential. He noted that apricots are among Ladakh’s most valuable horticultural assets and that the agreement will create direct economic benefits by opening global market channels.
The administration is also working on expanding the model to other produce, including apples, while planning to launch a dedicated e-commerce platform for Ladakh. The proposed portal, envisioned along the lines of Amazon and Flipkart, aims to provide farmers with direct market access and reduce reliance on intermediaries.
Additionally, the government is focusing on building local processing infrastructure to minimise wastage and enhance value addition, further strengthening Ladakh’s position in domestic and global agri-markets.