Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Mudasir Ahmad, a 27-year-old resident of village Heevan Narwa in Baramulla district of North Kashmir, has successfully grown saffron in his native village, marking the first time the crop has been cultivated in this part of North Kashmir.
Saffron, usually limited to the highlands of Pampore in South Kashmir and parts of the Chenab Valley, has now emerged as a possibility for Baramulla’s farmers.
Ahmad’s breakthrough offers a new ray of hope for those interested in diversifying their agricultural practices to include the high-demand spice.
Concerned about the shrinking saffron fields in Pampore and increasing market demand, Ahmad decided to experiment with saffron cultivation beyond the traditional areas.
“The land under saffron in Pampore is shrinking, so we thought of trying it here. This could also encourage more youth to take up saffron farming, given the spice’s high demand,” he said.
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Ahmad found saffron cultivation manageable with minimal adjustments, saying it did not require any special treatment compared to other crops. “All land in the Valley can support saffron cultivation, but you need to maintain the soil properly,” he said.
However, Ahmad expressed frustration over the lack of institutional support. “Farmers in Baramulla are struggling due to the Agriculture Department’s indifference. The department, particularly here, is not showing enough interest in helping farmers unlock the potential of the agriculture sector,” he alleged.
Ahmad wanted to inspire other farmers in north Kashmir, especially those looking to explore alternatives to conventional crops amidst climate challenges and shrinking agricultural land.
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