PAMPORE: A day long Saffron Day was organized by Saffron Research Station of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir on Thursday at Dusoo, Pampore.
The festival was organized in collaboration with the Directorate of Extension, SKUAST Kashmir and Sponsored by NMHS, GBPNIHESD (Uttarakhand) PPV & FRA,MOA & FW, New Delhi.
Vice chancellor SKUAST Professor Mushtaq Ahmad was the chief guest on the occasion.
Head Saffron Research Station Dusoo Professor Bashir Ahmad Allaie , Professor, Firdous Nehvi, senior scientists also spoke on the occasion .
Saffron grower association president Abdul Majeed Wani and other officials were also present during the Saffron day function.
Vice Chancellor inaugurated an Indoor Saffron Cultivation ARSSSS, SKUAST-Kashmir at Advanced Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spice SKUAST Dusoo Pampore.
He also released a book namely Good Practices for Production Shalimar Saffron-1.
Incharge SKUAST Research centre Dusoo Pro. Dr Bashir Ahmad Allaie, Pro S.A Dar, Pro F.A Nehvi, Principal GDC Pampore Pro Seema Naaz, Pro f. Azmat, Dr Ayoub Ansari spice board, Dr Magloo, Pro M.M Khan Waheed ur Rehman International Spice park head, Saffron grower association president Abdul Majeed Wani and other officials and growers were also present during the Saffron day function.
While speaking to the media on the sidelines of the programme Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K professor Mushtaq Ahmad told Kashmir Reader that the main motive of the saffron day is to promote cultivation of Kashmir and aware the farmers about the latest trends and technologies by the research teams of the university.
“ The research shows that the production of Saffron could be increased manifold if the successes in research are translated to the normal farming practice,” he said adding that the farmers must reap the benefits of National Saffron Mission and adopt its sprinkle irrigation in order see the revolution in the saffron production.

BILAL HABIB