Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 27: The Saffron farmers of Pampore have sought the intervention of Government in saving the corm from declining in the area.
In a letter to Additional Chief Secretary, Atal Dullo through Farooq Ahmed Dar the farmers said that Saffron is the heritage crop of Pampore and it is totally in decay. They sought personnel intervention of Atal Dullo in saving the corm. The farmers while showing their serious concern said 70 percent of corm is gone from the Karewas of Pampore creating an alarming situation. The farmers pleading before the ACS urged him to save this heritage crop.
While suggesting some measures they said the area around the Saffron Research Station should be developed as corm production at the first phase. In the whole Saffron Karewa area be demarked to be called as ‘Sona Krand’ (Golden Basket) . The area needs special attention as it was ‘Sona Krand’ because the yield of Saffron was highest in the area, the letter added.
It said the seed nurseries of Saffron be developed on hundred kanals (each nursery) at both sides of National Highway and on the roadside of Pampore to Khrew road near Saffron Research Station and the area around spice park be given special attention.
The letter said that the Agriculture Department of Pampore has eight circles and the survey of each circle regarding the corm availability be started on priority so that the land and farmers can be identified who have saved corm. Each Circle Officer must be asked to furnish actual figure farmer wise strictly in 15 days.
It further said that in the spice park the farmers have deposited the Saffron crop after harvesting in November last year for GI Tag but the sale of saffron is slow. The farmers need money so the Government should pay attention to speed up the process of sale.
The letter demanded ban on sale of Iranian Saffron on the Highway at Lethpora in the name of Kashmir Saffron. The farmers have no objection if the Saffron outlet will sell Iranian Saffron separately. The Kashmiri Saffron should be marked as Kashmiri Saffron and Iranian be marked as Iranian Saffron, the letter demanded.
It said the bore wells on whose construction huge amount was spent are non functional and the Government needs to take immediate steps to make them functional. Moreover no construction of houses be allowed in the areas of Saffron land. Besides, the FPOs related to Saffron, spices and other medicinal plants should be given strict guidelines for only selling Kashmiri Saffron.
It demanded that the Agriculture Department and SKUAST-K should remain in touch with Saffron farmers of Pampore so that they could be updated about the production.
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