Kargil's Halman and Khante valleys produce 8,000+ tonnes of apricot annually but lack of cold storage and processing means 30%+ rots before market. A small dryer + oil-press unit captures both export-grade dried fruit and premium apricot kernel oil.
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Kargil grows what is arguably India's best apricot — Halman and Khante varieties cultivated above 2,500m have sugar concentration and shelf-life that subtropical varieties can't match. The unprocessed loss rate is shameful; without cold-chain or local drying, large fractions rot before reaching markets. A small unit running a solar-assisted dryer (for premium dried apricots) plus a cold-press kernel oil expeller (a high-value cosmetic-grade ingredient) captures both streams.
Capex of ₹10–18 lakh covers the dryer, expeller, packing line, and a small cold room. PMFME plus the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) pay 50–60% subsidy for cold-chain in J&K/Ladakh hill regions. The hard parts: short harvest window (8 weeks), training labour to grade fruit by sugar content, and getting the kernel-oil GI/cosmetic certifications to access the premium beauty-brand buyers (the entire payback hinges on this — without it you're competing with cheaper Turkish and Iranian product). Start with dried fruit; oil follows in year 2.
Eligible schemes
Indicative only — final eligibility depends on promoter category, location, and the bank's credit policy. The DPR generator spells out exact subsidy quanta for your specific case.
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