SRINAGAR: According to a report by Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama 2500 ha have been rejuvenated so far and bumper production is expected during the current season which is in full bloom.
The report reads that the reason of the bumper crop is timely interventions of the department in terms of rejuvenation of saffron corms on scientific basis, integrated nutrient management, integrated disease and pest management and technical guidance by the field functionaries of the department to the growers, the spokesman said.
Pertinent to mention Saffron production in Jammu and Kashmir was under threat of extinction due to decline in productivity from an average of 3.13 kg per hectare to 1.88 kg per hectare over the years before 2010. Due to initiatives taken y the Government for revival of JK Saffron under National Mission on Saffron, a project of Rs. 411 crore was approved by Government of India in year 2010-2011, under which an area of 3715 hectare of saffron was proposed to be rejuvenated.
Under the mission India International Saffron Trade Centre (Saffron Park) has been commissioned at Dussu, Pampore and is likely to be inaugurated very soon. At this centre, farmers will get hi-tech post harvesting facilities like drying, stigma separation, packing, grading and quality tests, besides facility for marketing of Saffron through e-auctioning is also being extended to the growers.
