Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir today reviewed the progress of implementation of National Saffron Mission(NSM) at high level meeting here today. The meeting reviewed all the components of the NSM for its successful implementation. The Meeting discussed threadbare the implementation of irrigation facilities for the saffron growers and it was informed that the construction of 68 bore wells has been completed. The discharging capacity of these bore wells are being monitored which is necessary to assess how much area per bore well would irrigate as per discharge.
The Minister directed the concerned to complete the process within one month with full details and transfer them to Mechanical Engineering department for laying out distribution network as per the guide lines of National Saffron Mission. He also instructed to start the work on digging of 50 other bore wells at the earliest.Mr Mir directed the CE Mechanical to start the necessary paperwork for tendering and instructed him to make these bore wells functional within the prescribed time frame so that saffron growers are benefited at the earliest. In Kishtiwar, The Minister directed Director Agriculture Jammu to involve the Geology Mining department or Central Ground water Board for assessing the feasibility of bore wells so that necessary steps would be taken for construction of Bore wells for the saffron growers of the area.
With regard the rejuvenation of saffron corms, The Minister fixed the target of 1500 Hectares in valley and asked the Director Agriculture Jammu to complete the remaining portion this year in Kishtiwar. He was informed that already 1300 Hectares have been completed during last year. He further asked them to priorities those areas which are supposed to be provided irrigation facilities.
The Minister also stressed for setting up of Spice Park and asked the Commissioner Secretary for necessary communication with Union Agriculture Ministry for early redressal of issues so that work on the project is started at the earliest.
Regarding Mechanisation, The Minister was informed that the saffron growers are coming forward to adopt the latest agriculture inputs for enhancing the quality of saffron and the targets fixed are being achieved in this regard. He also directed to work for setting up of weather stations.Commissioner Secretary Agriculture production, Dr.Asgar Samoon, Chief Engineer Mechanical, Mr. Shafat Chesti, Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Mushtaq Peerzada, Director Agriculture, Jammu. Mr Ajay Khajuria, Saffron expert from SKUAST-K, Professor Nehavi and other senior officers of agriculture department were present in the meeting.