*Lays foundation stone of Saffron Park Project
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh laid foundation stone of Rs 24. 54 crore prestigious Saffron Park Project at Dussu, Pampore today.
State’s Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Member Parliament Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri, Minister of State for Agriculture 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 world’s 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 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 of State for Agriculture 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 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.
Besides the District Development Commissioner Pulwama 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.
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