SRINAGAR: Saffron replanting has gained considerable momentum across the major saffron-growing areas of Pampore as farmers have begun actively rejuvenating their fields under the Jammu and Kashmir Comprehensive Investment Plan (JKCIP).
The ongoing exercise aims to revive saffron cultivation, improve crop productivity, and restore the health of fields that have seen declining yields over the years. Farmers in several villages of Pampore Tehsil, popularly known as the Saffron Town of Kashmir, are participating in the replanting programme with support from the Agriculture Department.
Under the initiative, financial assistance of Rs 28,735 per kanal is being provided to eligible farmers for saffron replanting, while an additional Rs 9,000 per kanal is being extended towards labour costs, providing an important financial cushion to growers undertaking the labour-intensive process.
Agriculture Department teams from Zone Pampore are closely monitoring the ongoing field activities and visiting saffron-growing areas to ensure that the replanting is carried out according to the prescribed technical guidelines.
Officials are also guiding farmers on various aspects of saffron cultivation, including selection of healthy and quality corms, appropriate planting depth, spacing, land preparation and other agronomic practices considered essential for better crop establishment and productivity.
An Agriculture Department official said that around 610 kanals were covered under the replanting programme last year and expressed confidence that the area would increase substantially this year.
“Last year, around 610 kanals were covered under the replanting programme. This year, we are expecting the area to almost double as more farmers are coming forward to participate in the scheme,” the official said.
Farmers involved in the programme said the financial and technical support had encouraged them to invest in rejuvenating their saffron fields, particularly at a time when cultivation costs have increased and maintaining traditional saffron fields has become increasingly challenging.
“We welcome the replanting programme because saffron cultivation requires considerable investment and labour. The financial assistance reduces the burden on growers, while the guidance from agriculture officials helps us follow the recommended practices,” a saffron grower said.
Another farmer said that systematic replanting was important for maintaining the productivity and quality of Kashmir saffron. “Pampore’s saffron is not merely a crop but part of the region’s agricultural heritage. Any initiative aimed at improving production and supporting growers needs to be strengthened so that the younger generation also remains interested in saffron cultivation,” he said.
Farmers, however, have also urged authorities to maintain strict vigilance over the movement of saffron corms, particularly amid concerns over their illegal transportation outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The concern assumes significance as Pampore Police recently foiled an attempt to illegally transport saffron corms from the Saffron Town. The seized saffron corms were subsequently handed over to the Agriculture Department, Zone Pampore, for further necessary action.
Local saffron growers welcomed the police action, saying that the illegal movement of corms could have a direct bearing on the sustainability of saffron cultivation in the region.
“Saffron corms are the foundation of future production. If they are taken away illegally, it can undermine the very purpose of the replanting programme. There should be continuous vigilance, especially during the planting season,” they said.
Farmers said that the present replanting drive could play an important role in restoring saffron cultivation in Pampore if supported by sustained technical assistance, quality planting material, proper field monitoring and effective protection of saffron resources. (KNO)
