In a major development, Kashmir Saffron got international recognition when Consultative Committee in New Delhi accepted the Geographic Indication (GI) registration for Kashmir Saffron.This was announced by Advisor to Governor, Farooq Ahmad Khan during the inauguration of Cocoon Auction Market 2019-20 at Directorate of Sericulture Development Department, Tulsi Bagh here today.Secretary Agriculture Production Department (APD), Manzoor Ahmed Lone, Director Sericulture Development Department, Riyaz Ahmad Wani and other concerned were present on the occasion.While calling the GI registration for Kashmir Saffron as big achievement, Advisor Khan said it will help the Saffron marketing at international level and will subsequently benefit Saffron growers and farmers alike.Pertinently, final meeting regarding the issuance of GI tag for Kashmir Saffron crop was held on September 23, 2019 in New Delhi. J&K Government had already taken up the GI tag issue with Government of India, Geographic Indications Registry.Advisor said that the Government is committed to brand other Kashmir products like silk, walnuts, fruits etc so that these products would be recognized worldwide and would also help to increase the income of local farmers.He said that the State Government will frame a policy for Sericulturists and cocoon growers so that it will help in their income generation, adding that the administration is planning to increase the cocoon farmers' income from Rs one lakh to Rs five lakh in next three years.
Calling the Silk as Pride of Kashmir, the Advisor said the Government in consultation with Sericulture department will come up with a proposal to reclaim Kashmir Silk's lost place.Speaking on the occasion, Secretary APD, Manzoor Ahmad Lone said JK is the only state in India having good potential to produce Bivoltine Silk of international grade.Elaborating about the Buyer-Seller-Meet auction, Lone said it is the unique type of silk cocoon auctioning wherein the farmers are assisted by all possible means to avoid any distress sales, and in the market, it is ensured that the buyers from all over the country including locals participate to have a healthy competition.It was also given out that at present only 30 per cent of the production is utilized by the local buyers/reelers within the State while as rest of the 70 percent goes to outside J&K through outside buyers for further value addition.It was also informed that the department has been assisting the local unit holders (reelers) by way of providing cocoon bank facilities in which the cost of 70 percent of the raw material (Silk Cocoons) purchased by the local buyers are timely being paid by the department out of revolving fund through DBT Mode, which is being re-paid by the local parties at regular intervals of the calendar year.Speaking on the occasion, Director Sericulture Development Department, Riyaz Ahmad Wani said that last year an employment of 40350 mandays were generated by way of producing 344 MTs of Silk Cocoons with transaction of Rs 9.087 crore in the market of Kashmir Division.He added that it is expected that 8,000 Silk worm rearing families will transact 360 MTRs of Silk Cocoons in the organised market during this year (2019-20).