SRINAGAR: The Union Territory of Ladakh has imposed a complete ban on the procurement, distribution, sale and use of chemical and synthetic fertilisers, setting the stage for its transformation into India’s largest certified organic farming region.
The order, issued by the Ladakh Administration on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, came into force with immediate effect. It prohibits the procurement, distribution, sale, marketing and use of chemical or synthetic fertilisers for agricultural practices across the Union Territory. Violations will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 10,000.
According to the official order, the ban has been imposed “to safeguard organic certification, protect soil and water resources, promote sustainable agricultural practices and establish Ladakh as a model organic region, thereby ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of its agricultural sector.”
Farmers and agricultural institutions have been directed to use only on-farm and off-farm organic inputs for cultivation.
The decision marks a significant shift in Ladakh’s agricultural policy and aligns with the Centre’s push for natural farming and environmentally sustainable agriculture. During the recent NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged states and Union Territories to expand organic farming and adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices.
The Ladakh Administration said the prohibition is intended to protect the region’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem, conserve soil and water resources, strengthen organic value chains and enhance the market value of Ladakh’s agricultural produce.
“Ladakh has been blessed with a pristine environment, rich biodiversity, unique agro-ecological conditions and traditional farming practices that have remained largely free from excessive chemical intervention,” Lieutenant Governor Saxena said. “The prohibition on chemical and synthetic fertilisers marks a transformative step towards making Ladakh a fully organic Union Territory. This initiative will protect our fragile Himalayan ecosystem, enhance the value of Ladakh’s organic produce, improve farmers’ incomes through premium markets and establish Ladakh as a global model of environmentally sustainable high-altitude agriculture.”
Ladakh has already made substantial progress towards organic certification. According to the administration, 207 revenue villages have so far been brought under the organic certification programme as part of efforts to develop the Union Territory into a certified organic region.
The Agriculture Department has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the ban. The departments of Horticulture, Cooperatives, and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj have been tasked with supporting farmers through awareness campaigns, capacity-building programmes and improved access to organic inputs. Enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
