The story
Apricot trees have grown in the villages of Kargil and Leh for centuries, and families have long sun-dried the fruit to eat through the winter. Ladakh grows most of India's apricots, and the white-seeded Raktsey Karpo variety got a GI tag in 2022. Better air and road links and an export tie-up with a UAE retailer are opening new markets for fresh fruit. Short shelf life and transport out of the high Himalaya remain the main hurdles.
In numbers
Ladakh produces 15,868 tonnes of apricots from 2,612 hectares, with two-thirds from Kargil and one-third from Leh.
Swarajya — Ladakh's premium apricots head to UAE as 1,000-tonne Lulu export initiative gets underway · 2026Over 1,000 MT of Ladakh apricots are to be shipped to the UAE this season.
Business Today — Ladakh's unique and rare apricots set for UAE exports · 2026
GI tag
- Ladakh Raktsey Karpo (apricot)Application no. GI Application No. 729IP India — Registration Details of Geographical Indications
Ways in for a newcomer
- Solar drying and hygienic packing of dried apricots
- Apricot kernel oil and cosmetics
- Cold-chain aggregation for fresh-fruit exports
- Branded GI Raktsey Karpo for premium retail
Problems the cluster faces
- Very short shelf life of fresh fruit
- High air-freight and road costs
- Small, scattered orchards
- Traditional drying quality issues
Businesses to start here
Apricot Kernel Oil →Vacuum-Dried Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs →Fruit Bars →Fruit Juice and Murabba Unit →