Srinagar, Nov 5: Saffron growers have a reason to celebrate as the production of world’s costliest spice is expected to increase by 200 percent this year.
Agriculture department data accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveal that the saffron production is expected to touch six tonnes compared to two tonnes last year.
President, Saffron Growers Association, Abdul Majeed Wani said timely and adequate rainfall boosted the production this year, and is expected to increase by two times than last year
The harvesting of saffron starts from last week of October and continues till last week of November.
“Decline in saffron production last year was due to dry weather. The production of saffron will be increased only by irrigation facilities. This year the production increased because of adequate rainfall,” he said.
Growers credit the increase to the use of new technology under ‘National Saffron Mission. “Irrigation component of the scheme is still incomplete. The production would have witnessed steady increase, had the irrigation facilities been adequate,” he said.
To give boost to the saffron production, union ministry of agriculture and production, started ‘National Mission on Saffron’ in 2010 for seven years with project cost of Rs 400.11 crore. So far, the government has utilised only Rs 203 crore.
Unable to meet March 2019 deadline, Centre has extended the time period for completion of scheme to March 2020.
Director Agriculture Department, Kashmir, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi said production of saffron has increased manifold due to the timely rainfall this year. “Once the irrigation facilities are made available, there will be further increase in the production,” he said.
Andrabi however blamed saffron growers for “not coming forward” to reap the benefits under the scheme. “Land mafia was creating hurdles for laying of pipe network for irrigation facilities. There is target of 126 tube wells of which 116 have been completed. Once the process is completed, there will be significant increase in saffron production,” he said.
As per the official figures, saffron crop was being cultivated on 5707 hectares of land at Pampore in 1996, which has now reached to around 3500 hectares.
