Pashmina Livestock Development Incentive Programme
A 25% top-up over the government procurement price of raw Pashmina, paid directly to Changpa herders by DBT — the first scheme of its kind for Ladakh's Pashmina economy.
Run by: Animal, Sheep Husbandry & Fisheries Department, UT Ladakh (through the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board)
- Top-up incentive
- 25% of procurement value
- Payment mode
- DBT to Aadhaar-linked account
- Revolving fund
- ₹8 crore to ACPGCMS
- Approved
- 5 July 2026
Overview
Raw Pashmina from the Changthang plateau already earns a premium as one of the world's finest animal fibres, but very little of that value used to reach the nomadic herder who combs it out of a goat each spring. The Ladakh Pashmina Development Board, in its first meeting on 5 July 2026, approved the Livestock Development Incentive Programme to close that gap: every herder now gets a 25% top-up over and above the price the government pays for their raw Pashmina, credited straight to an Aadhaar-linked bank account.
The incentive is not meant to be spent all at once. Of the amount a herder receives, 60% is earmarked for livestock improvement and scientific breeding of Pashmina goats, 20% for modern combing equipment and basic infrastructure, and the remaining 20% is left free for household and personal use. Alongside the incentive, an ₹8-crore revolving fund was sanctioned to the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Cooperative Marketing Society so herders are paid upfront for their produce rather than waiting months for payment.
The administration has set itself a target of doubling the Pashmina goat population from roughly 2 lakh to 4 lakh animals within three years, and raising average raw-Pashmina yield from about 200 grams to 350 grams per goat through better breeding — the incentive is the financial lever meant to get herders investing in exactly that.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- A flat 25% top-up over the government's procurement price for raw Pashmina, paid on top of what the herder already earns from selling the fibre.
- Money reaches the herder's own Aadhaar-linked bank account by Direct Benefit Transfer — no middleman, no cash handling.
- 60% of the incentive is ring-fenced for livestock improvement and scientific breeding, so the programme builds better herds over time, not just one-off income.
- 20% is meant for combing equipment and basic infrastructure, cutting the physical labour of hand-combing Pashmina goats.
- A companion ₹8-crore revolving fund to the Changthang cooperative means herders are increasingly paid upfront rather than waiting 8–10 months for their money.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Changpa herder rearing Pashmina goats on the Changthang plateau in Ladakh
- Raw Pashmina sold through the government procurement channel / recognised cooperative society
- Aadhaar-linked bank account for the DBT transfer
- Registered with the Sheep Husbandry Department or the cooperative marketing society
Not covered
- Pashmina sold outside the recognised procurement/cooperative channel
- Herders without an Aadhaar-linked bank account for DBT
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card
- Bank passbook (Aadhaar-linked account)
- Livestock/herder registration with the Sheep Husbandry Department
- Proof of Pashmina sold through the procurement channel
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Sell your raw Pashmina through the procurement channel
Deliver combed raw Pashmina to the government procurement point or the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Cooperative Marketing Society, as you already do each season.
- 2
Procurement value is recorded against your name
The quantity and value of Pashmina you sold is logged against your Aadhaar-linked registration, which is what the 25% top-up is calculated on.
- 3
Top-up credited by DBT
The 25% incentive is transferred directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account, on top of the procurement price you were already paid.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- Issues with registration or the DBT credit should first be raised with the Sheep Husbandry Department office or the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Cooperative Marketing Society.
- If unresolved, escalate to Ladakh's Integrated Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System — call 8588816003, WhatsApp 9541786450, or use the portal at grievance.ladakh.gov.in.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to apply separately for the 25% top-up?
No separate application is described — the incentive is calculated on the Pashmina you sell through the recognised procurement/cooperative channel and paid automatically by DBT. Register your herd and bank details with the Sheep Husbandry Department or your cooperative to make sure you are covered.
Can I spend the incentive however I like?
The policy earmarks 60% for livestock improvement and scientific breeding and 20% for combing equipment and infrastructure — only the remaining 20% is meant for free household/personal use, though this is a usage guideline rather than a fund locked in a separate account.
Is this the same as the subsidy for buying sheep/goat units or building a rearing shed?
No. This programme is a cash top-up on the value of Pashmina you actually sell. The capital subsidy for setting up a livestock unit or a kid pen/shed is a separate scheme run by the Sheep Husbandry Department — see the Sheep, Goat & Pashmina Rearing Unit Subsidy.
Facts checked against ladakh.gov.in on 8 September 2026. editorial policy.