NABARD explores collaboration with GDC Drass for Rural Enterprise and Biodiversity Initiatives

DRASS: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has initiated discussions with Government Degree College (GDC), Drass, to explore collaboration on entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and value-added rural enterprises, with a focus on promoting local products, eco-tourism and skill-based economic opportunities.

District Development Consultant, NABARD, Kargil, Anub Paljor, visited the college to assess potential areas of partnership. The interaction was chaired by Principal M.N.M. Shabani and attended by faculty members and skill instructors representing zoology, botany, food processing, and high-altitude adventure and trekking.

During the meeting, the Principal highlighted the institution’s efforts to integrate skill education with entrepreneurship through initiatives such as Drass Pickle, Drass Patriotic Trek (Drass Veer Trek) and the proposed High Altitude Biodiversity Conservation and Research Park.

Discussions centred on possible NABARD support for enterprise development, capacity building, value addition and market linkages for locally developed products, including trout fish pickle and tourism initiatives linked to the Drass Patriotic Trek.

The Department of Botany presented the potential of Drass Kala Zeera (Black Cumin) and proposed measures for its scientific cultivation, conservation, establishment of a seed bank and greater farmer participation under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.

The Department of Zoology also proposed collaborative projects focusing on biodiversity conservation, including Project Craft for Biodiversity, a Native Species Seed Bank, and a Medicinal Plants Garden under the proposed High Altitude Biodiversity Conservation and Research Park.

The visit concluded with the presentation of the Campus Biodiversity Heritage Calendar to the NABARD representative. Principal M.N.M. Shabani expressed optimism that the proposed collaboration would strengthen entrepreneurship, biodiversity conservation and sustainable rural development while creating new livelihood opportunities for local communities in Drass.