SRINAGAR, AUGUST 23: The Union Minister for Agriculture Mr Radha Mohan Singh laid foundation stone of Rs 24. 54 crore prestigious Saffron Park Project at Dussu, Pampore today.
Minister for Agriculture, Jammu and Kashmir State Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir, Member Parliament Mr. Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri, Minister of State for Agriculture Mr. Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, MLA Pampore Zahoor Ahmad Mir were present on the occasion.
The Saffron Park is being developed by the National Horticulture Board, Union Ministry of Agriculture under the National Saffron Mission started in the State in 2010. The period for completion of the Mission has been extended for 6 years during which an amount of Rs 400.11 crore will be spent on revival of saffron in Jammu and Kashmir under National Saffron Mission.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Agriculture Minister said that Kashmir has the proud privilege of producing the finest quality saffron which is famous for its colour and flavour all over the world. He said that the union government is determined to provide all assistance to the saffron growers in producing the worlds No: 1 saffron from Kashmir, adding that strengthening farming community is necessary for the development of the nation.
Terming the Kashmir as the crown of India, the Union Minister said that the union Government will make all out efforts and provide assistance to develop the State.
Mr. Radha Mohan said that aim and objective of the Saffron Mission is to double the average production of Saffron from 2. 5 kgs per ha to over 5 kgs per ha by adopting appropriate technology, improving soil health and providing irrigation facility for the crop and to develop appropriate systems for organized marketing, quality-based pricing of Saffron and for formulating direct transactions between growers, traders, exporters and industrial agencies.
The Union Minister said that Soil Health Cards will be provided to the farmers of the country in next 3 years so that they should not face any problem in producing quality productions from the cultivable land.
The Union Minister said that during the implementation of the Mission a large number of local youth will get employment opportunities which will surely change their socio- economic conditions.
Referring to setting up of Horticulture University in Jammu and Kashmir State, the Union Minister asked the State government to submit a detailed proposal to the concerned Union Ministry for appropriate action.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Agriculture Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir said that the objective of the National Saffron Mission is to enhance the overall production of saffron, improving quality of saffron, enhancement of research and extension capability and develop appropriate system for organised marketing for the growers. He said the Mission is aimed to extend support for creation of irrigation facilities through tube wells and sprinklers which would go a long way in increasing better crop production in the State.
Mr. Mir stressed the need for preserving and channelizing the water bodies in the State so that karewa areas of the State too, are made healthy for cultivation of different kind of crops.
The Minister said that with the strenuous efforts of the Agriculture Department, the productivity of saffron has reached to 4.5 Kgs per hac in 3rd year in the areas were rejuvenation has been carried out.
Mr. Mir said that our State has limited sources and hoped that Union Government will provide all assistance to the State government for carrying forward the Saffron Mission in the state.
The Minister of State for Agriculture Mr. Nazir Ahamd Khan Gurezi, in his address, stressed need for evolving strong policy for marketing of saffron in the world under a registered trade mark. He said the project has many components to ensure timely and identifiable performance.
Member Parliament Mr. Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri and MLA Pampore Zahoor Ahmad Mir also addressed the gathering and suggested the measures for boosting of saffron crops.
Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Production Dr. Asgar Samoon gave detailed resume of the activities being taken under the National
Saffron in the State.
On the occasion, Director Agriculture Kashmir Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmad briefed that under Rs 400.11 crore earmarked for the National Saffron Mission, Rs 315.99 crore is Central share while as former share is Rs 84.12 crore. He said that an amount of Rs 129.72 crore have been released so far, of which an amount of Rs 124.77 crore have been incurred so far.
The Director also said that 1867 ha land has been rejuvenated and 21500 MT of Vermin Compost, fertilizer and pesticides were distributed among the farmers. He said 92 bore wells and 42 sumps were constructed so far.
The Managing Director National Horticulture Board, Mr. Rajinder Kumar Tiwari said that the infrastructure in the park will be created for which construction work is started soon. He said the core facilities in the park would be sample collection hall, refrigeration room, stigma separation hall, drying patching storage units, quality control testing laboratory, auction centre and a multi-purpose auditorium. He said that partner agencies in the project would be Directorate of Agriculture, Kashmir and Jammu, SKUAST K, Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture Srinagar (CITH) and National Horticultural Board.
Besides the District Development Commissioner Pulwama Mr. Sajjad Ahmad Khan, Director Agriculture Jammu Mr. Jamwal, senior officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, Saffron Mission and a large number of progressive saffron growers were present.
