STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Expressing serious concern over the conversion of saffron land for residential purposes, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said there should be no deviation of the Land Use Act. He directed the district administration Pulwama to gear up their field functionaries and take strong measures to stop the construction of residential houses and other illegal constructions on saffron land.
The minister was interacting with the officers after inaugurating two Bore Wells having Sprinkler Irrigation System costing Rs 81 lakh at Namalibal and Chadhara Pampore. These irrigation projects will irrigate 47 hectares of saffron land and will benefit about 500 farmers of these areas.
MLA Pampore Mir Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chief Engineer Mechanical Kashmir and other senior officers of agriculture, revenue and mechanical departments were present on the occasion.
The minister also inspected ongoing construction work of Saffron Park Pampore constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore. The park is having facilities of transit, canteen, administrative conference block, processing and flower handling unit, e-tendering and trading facilities.
The minister directed the executing agency National Horticulture Board New Delhi to speed up the pace of work on the project and complete the same within a stipulated time frame.
Later, the minister visited the Saffron Research Station (SRS), SKUAST Kashmir Dassoo Pampore and interacted with the staff. Incharge SRS briefed the Minister about research being carried in the field of tissue culture, genetic enhancement, production, post harvest.
The minister also inspected research fields, drawing unit besides tissue culture and quality laboratories at SRS.
Strategies for saffron promotion in other districts of Jammu and Kashmir were highlighted.
Earlier, the minister interacted with a group of farmers and said that special focus is given to boost the saffron promotion and production in the state. He said that the concerned departments have been asked to identify the land were saffron to be cultivated. He said a project of Rs 400 crore under National Mission on Saffron was sanctioned with the aim to increase the production and quality of saffron. He said that the saffron of our State is famous throughout world but need is to make its identity with quality product.
He also asked the SKUAST, revenue, agriculture and mechanical departments to work with dedication and in a coordinator manner, so that the benefits of National Mission on Saffron projects reached to the maximum lot. Hanjura directed the concerned to utilize the funds in full sanctioned under the project in a judicious manner within a time bound manner.
Later, the minister chaired a meeting with the concerned officers to review the achievements registered under Economical Revival of Jammu and Kashmir Saffron Sector National Mission on Saffron project at JKEDI Pampore .
It was given out in the meeting that under National Mission on Saffron in district Pulwama 1449 ha rejuvenated, 1009 mt of vermin compost, 830 mt of fertilizers, 21 mt of pesticides distributed among the farmers. It was also given out that 525 Vermi compost units established, 104 Weeders provided to the farmers and 40 hot air dryers distributed on 50 percent subsidy while as 120 demonstration plots laid on 100 percent assistance.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister directed the concerned to register all those shopkeepers who are selling saffron so that the quality of saffron is maintained. He said that there should be real linkage between the International market and Growers and directed the concerned to ensure removal of middle man and ensure. He also asked for joint efforts to make the saffron project a successive.
MLA Pampore also spoken on the occasion and highlighted the issues and problems being faced by the Saffron farmers. He said the Government is committed to revive the agriculture sector in the State.