As the apricot harvest peaks in the cold desert of Ladakh, a major shipment of premium fruit has been exported to Gulf countries.
For the first time, a consignment of 1.5 metric tonnes of Halman apricots has been sent to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.
PT Rudra Goud, Secretary of Industries and Commerce, flagged off the shipment from Leh on August 5. Goud told reporters that exports of Halman apricots from Ladakh were rising this year, with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) facilitating the process.
The Lulu Group, a multinational conglomerate, is backing the purchase through its associate firms, he added.
Ladakh began exporting apricots in 2021 with a shipment of about 20 tonnes sent to Dubai.
Tsewang Phunchok, Director of Horticulture Department, Ladakh, told businessline the Halman variety, grown organically without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, had been exported to the Gulf.
A total of 50 tonnes of apricots have been exported from the region so far this year, including 1.5 tonnes to Gulf countries, said the Director.
A key source of livelihood
Apricots are cultivated across Ladakh region, where more than 30,000 families depend on the stone fruit for their livelihood. Covering over 2,600 hectares, orchards in the region produce about 15,868 tonnes of the fruit annually. With an output of roughly 1,999 tonnes, the region stands as the leading producer of dried apricots in the country.
Apricots are classified by kernel taste and stone colour — varieties with bitter kernels are called khante, while those with sweet kernels are known as nyarmo. The harvest runs usually from mid-July to the end of August.
“This is the peak harvesting season, and farmers are busy picking and packing the fruit for markets across India,” said Imran Ali, a farmer from Kargil.
In 2021, the industry got a major boost when Raktsey Karoo apricots, known for their high quality and sweetness, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2021, protecting the name from misuse and recognising its link to the place of origin.
Published on August 13, 2025
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