Rajnath Singh inaugurated 26th Ladakhi Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela in Leh

Defence Minister Sri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 26th Mela of Ladakhi-Kisan-Jawan-Vigyan Mela on 29 August. The Ladakhi Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela was organised by the Leh-based Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) of DRDO, which was established in 1960 to meet the fresh food requirement of the soldiers deployed in the harsh terrain of Ladakh, an official release said.

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Gyal Phunchok Wangyal, Chief Executive Counselor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), and Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal amongst others were also present there.

“Through the technologies developed by the institute, the Army is getting locally grown fresh organic farm produce. As a spin-off of the technologies developed, farmers in Ladakh are able to produce a variety of fruits and vegetables resulting in improving their socio-economic condition,” it said.

The interdependence created between the locals and the Army through the scientific endeavours of DIHAR has contributed to socio-economic upliftment of local farmers.

DIHAR:

The Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) is a constituent laboratory of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). DIHAR was set up in 1962 in Leh. It is located at an altitude of 3,500 m above the Mean Sea Level (MSL). The institute has core competence in cold arid agro-animal technology.

The institute aims to meet fresh food requirement of the soldiers at high altitude cold desert condition. It is also responsible to make the region reasonably green. The research stations of the institute are located at Ranbirpura, Ladakh; Partapur, Siachen Sector; Base Laboratory in Chandigarh and the world’s highest terrestrial R&D Centre at Changla, Ladakh.