Ladakh Gets Two High-Altitude Flower Fields

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena laid the foundation stone for two high-altitude flower fields in Leh district, Ladakh, on 22 June 2026. The projects are being developed at Choglamsar and Stakna and are described as the first of their kind in India.

Floriculture in Ladakh

Floriculture is the cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants for commercial and decorative use. The two Ladakh projects are designed to promote floriculture, diversify biodiversity, and create livelihood opportunities for farmers in a cold desert region.

Project Sites and Area

The Choglamsar Floriculture Park will cover 92,687 square metres and is planned as Ladakh’s first dedicated floriculture initiative. The second site at the School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, University of Ladakh, Stakna, will cover more than 1.02 lakh square metres.

Scientific Support and Crop Types

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Agriculture, UT Ladakh, and the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, for scientific and technical support. The sites will function as demonstration centres for lilies, gladioli, and tulips before transfer to farmer cooperatives for commercial cultivation.

Important Facts for Exams

• Ladakh is a Union Territory created in 2019 after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Leh is one of the two districts of Ladakh, the other being Kargil.
• Floriculture is a branch of horticulture that deals with flowers and ornamental plants.
• CSIR-IHBT is a laboratory under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Green Cover and Tourism

The projects are linked with a target to raise Ladakh’s green cover from 0.4 per cent to 5 per cent. The sites are also planned to support eco-tourism and local employment in Leh district.