Buckwheat Honey extraction in the high lands of Kargil.

Buckwheat Honey extraction in the high lands of Kargil.
Kargil, October 17, 2025: In a historic event, for the first time ever, honey from the buckwheat crop was extracted at School of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh.
Earlier in the year 2019, an effort was made in Kargil district to promote apiculture following which honey was extracted from Alfalfa crop in the same year at Mountain Agriculture Research and Extension Station, Kargil which has been renamed now as School of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kargil since 2024.
This year, in continuation with the efforts done in previous years, School of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kargil formulated a floral calendar and accordingly introduced bee colonies in synchronisation with floral period of Alfalfa and Buckwheat and thus able to extract honey from both the crops resulting in a significance development in apiculture as honey was extracted for the first time from Buckwheat crop.
The buckwheat crop was sown in the month of late July i.e. on 22 July 2025 and later in synchronisation with the flowering of buckwheat crop the bee colonies were introduced from SKUAST Kashmir on 24 August 2025.
Further, after a gap of one and half month, honey was extracted on 4 October 2025 from these colonies marking a historic step as honey was extracted for the first time in Kargil, Ladakh from Buckwheat crop and thus, it opens new pathways towards sustainable agriculture, rural livelihood development, and biodiversity conversation.
The unique altitude and climate of Kargil have given this honey a distinctive aroma and taste, setting it apart from other regional varieties and makes a way for the untapped potential for high quality honey production from Kargil region. The whole activity was done under the supervision of Dr. Zahid Abass Wazir.
The eventful day of honey extraction was also graced by honourable Vice Chancellor, Prof. Saket Kushwaha sir who shared words of appreciation for Dr. Faizan Ahmed, Dean School of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kargil and his team for the efforts and dedication of the team. Following, this initial success, to popularize apiculture activity and to engage more people in this activity, suggestions were put forwarded by honourable Vice Chancellor, sir and under his chairmanship plans were discussed which include expanding more bee colonies in desirable villages, honey branding, and marketing and to promote Buckwheat honey of Kargil as a unique GI-tagged product in the future.
Further, Dr. Faizan Ahmed, Dean, School of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kargil under whose guidance and instructions the whole event starting from procuring bee colonies to harvesting congratulate the whole team involved in the process and acknowledged Dr. Ishtiyaq Ahad and his team from SKUAST K and wished that in future too such collaborative efforts would be carried out between both the institutes i.e. SKUAST K and School of Agriculture Science and Technology, Kargil for the mutual benefit of both the institutes.