Jammu, July 16 -- Lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday flagged off the first export consignment of 5 MT of Ladakh's premium apricots to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initiative marks beginning of Ladakh's largest-ever fresh apricot export programme and is expected to significantly enhance farmers' incomes while establishing Ladakh as a global supplier of premium-quality organic apricots. The export has been facilitated under an MoU signed in April 2026 between the Ladakh administration and the UAE-based global retail conglomerate Lulu Retail, through APEDA, which envisages the export of over 1,000 metric tonnes of fresh apricots during the current harvest season. Speaking on the occasion, LG Saxena said the export of the first consignment marked the beginning of a new era for Ladakh's horticulture sector and reflected the administration's commitment to connecting local farmers directly with global markets. htc...