STATE TIMES NEWS
SHILLONG: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, announced the expansion of the Mission Saffron initiative, which was launched by the Modi Government in 2021.
The initiative has successfully introduced saffron cultivation in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya, with large-scale farming now underway in Menchukha (Arunachal Pradesh) and Yuksom (Sikkim).
Plans are in place to extend cultivation to Nagaland and Manipur, positioning the Northeast as India’s new “Saffron Hub”, similar to Jammu & Kashmir. By utilizing previously uncultivated land, the initiative enhances agricultural potential without disrupting existing crops.
Dr. Singh laid the foundation stone for the North East Centre for Technology Application & Reach (NECTAR) permanent campus in Shillong, emphasizing the government’s commitment to scientific and agricultural advancements in the region.
He highlighted the remarkable infrastructure and connectivity improvements over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, noting that the Northeast, once plagued by accessibility challenges, now benefits from robust road, rail, and aerial transport networks.
NECTAR, established in 2014 under the Department of Science and Technology, has played a crucial role in technological innovation in the Northeast. Dr. Singh praised its initiatives, including saffron cultivation on the lines of lavender farming in J&K, drone technology for land mapping under the ‘Swamitva’ program, and advancements in bamboo and honey production. He stressed that NECTAR is bridging socio-economic gaps by applying indigenous technological solutions for sustainable development.
The newly planned NECTAR campus in New Shillong will serve as a collaborative centre of excellence for cutting-edge research, skill development, and technology demonstrations. Dr. Singh encouraged NECTAR to specialize in a dedicated scientific domain to gain pan-India recognition, similar to IITs and premier research institutions.
He further underscored the Northeast’s role in India’s economic ascent and its contribution to the nation’s goal of becoming a developed economy by 2047. As India moves toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy, Dr. Singh asserted that value addition from previously underutilized regions like the Northeast will be instrumental in this growth journey.
