In order to review the progress on Saffron Mission, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Production Department Mohd Ashraf Bukhari today conducted a meeting of officers here at Lalmandi Agriculture Head Office.Director Agriculture Kashmir, Senior Scientist Saffron Research Centre SKUAST (K), S.E Mechanical Engineering Department, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs, Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, and other Senior Officers of the Department attended the meeting.Commissioner Secretary Agriculture impressed upon the Officers that as National Saffron Mission is to be extended by next two years, there is need to remove the weaknesses and bottle necks at the ground level. He directed the officers to extend the Saffron area to other Districts of the Valley and bring more areas under Saffron crop.Commissioner Secretary emphasized upon the need for marketing of saffron through e- marketing system and instructed that Tourism Department be taken on board so that saffron could be put to sale through the chain of Hoteliers during the tourist season. He impressed upon the M.E.D and Irrigation officers to complete the laying of sprinkle irrigation system at the earliest , so that the irrigation component of the mission is dedicated to the growers.
The Commissioner was appraised that by technological interventions Saffron yield has increased up to 4.5 kg/hectare in the rejuvenated areas and during the current year 160 Hectares of Saffron area has been rejuvenated by planting the saffron corms on scientific basis and Rs. 1.74 crores have been disbursed to farmers so far, as previous years rejuvenation liability.Commissioner/Secretary emphasized upon the Enforcement agency of the Department for implementing Saffron Act 2007, so that quality of saffron is maintained and dealers dealing with spurious Saffron shall be dealt under law.He also directed the Officers to keep an eye on land conversion if any. A group of farmers present in the meeting requested the Commissioner for taking steps for maintaining the brand of Kashmiri Saffron.Commissioner Secretary assured the farmers that the Department will make every endeavour to take saffron industry to new heights.