Often referred to as the "Orchard of Ladakh," Nubra Valley is remarkably fertile for a high-altitude desert, owing to the micro-climate created by its lower elevation and the abundant glacial meltwater from the Shyok and Nubra rivers.
Horticulture is a major highlight; the valley is famous for its sweet apricots, apples (including the rare "blood apples" of Turtuk), walnuts, and almonds. In terms of staple crops, farmers primarily cultivate barley (used to make the traditional staple *tsampa*), wheat, mustard, and peas.
Livestock rearing is also an essential component of local agriculture. Families herd sheep, goats (including the Pashmina goat), yaks, dzo (a yak-cow hybrid used for plowing), and donkeys. The Bactrian camels, though once beasts of burden, are now mostly maintained for the lucrative tourist safari industry.
