By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Uttarakhand is drawing up a roadmap to emerge as a major centre for Rudraksha cultivation, processing and value addition, with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directing the state government to formulate a comprehensive policy for the organised promotion of commercial Rudraksha cultivation, the ruling BJP MLA Kishore Upadhyay said on Saturday after meeting Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
The move follows a detailed study of Rudraksha cultivation in Nepal by a delegation comprising Tehri-Garhwal MLA Upadhyay, agricultural scientist and spiritual author Dr Ramesh Singh Pal, and Rudraksha expert Prince Agrawal.
The delegation visited major Rudraksha-producing areas in Nepal to study cultivation practices, crop management, soil conditions, post-harvest processing, marketing systems and farmer-led production models. Based on its findings and scientific assessment, it prepared a nearly 200-page technical report on the potential of Rudraksha cultivation in Uttarakhand, along with a strategic roadmap for its development.
The report was submitted to Chief Minister Dhami recently, a statement issued by Upadhyay said.
Following consideration of the recommendations, the Uttarakhand government, through a letter issued by the state government on August 31, directed the Horticulture and Processing Department to prepare a comprehensive state policy for the organised development of Rudraksha cultivation.
The proposed policy is envisaged to cover the entire Rudraksha value chain—from cultivation and processing to value addition, marketing and allied industries. The government also expects the initiative to create new livelihood and entrepreneurship opportunities for farmers, particularly in the hill regions.
The move assumes significance as India remains heavily dependent on imports to meet its domestic Rudraksha demand. According to the delegation’s assessment, more than 95 per cent of Rudraksha consumed in India is imported, primarily from Nepal and Indonesia. Imports from the two countries were estimated at around USD 20.14 million in 2025.
The delegation members said a structured policy could help Uttarakhand build an integrated Rudraksha ecosystem covering farming, processing, value addition, industry and marketing, besides creating linkages with the state’s spiritual tourism and wellness economy.
The larger objective is to develop Uttarakhand as a Himalayan Rudraksha hub, reduce dependence on imports and create new avenues for rural entrepreneurship and farmer incomes.
With scientific cultivation practices, organised processing and market linkages, Rudraksha could potentially become a new high-value horticultural crop for the state’s hill economy while adding another dimension to Uttarakhand’s established identity as a major destination for spiritual and wellness tourism.