Saffron Day celebrated at Research Station Dusoo Pampore

PAMPORE: Saffron day was celebrated at Advanced Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spice SKUAST Dusoo in Pampore outskirts of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The function was organized by Advanced Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spice(ARSSS) SKUAST-Kashmir in collaboration with the AICRF on Spice and ICAR National Bank for Agriculture and Rural development (NABARD).
Director Research SKUAST Kashmir Dr Sarfraz Ahmad and Directorate of Extension, SKUAST Kashmir Professor Dil Mohammad Maqdoomi were the chief guests on the occasion.
Assistant Director Research Professor Azam Alam , Head Saffron Research Station Dusoo Professor Bashir Ahmad Allaie ,Head KVK Pulwama Dr Masrat,Joint Director Extension Agriculture,
District Agriculture officer Pulwama were present on the occasion.
Saffron growers association president Abdul Majeed Wani, Progressive young farmer, a Kashmir Advisory Board member Irshad Ahmad and a number of farmers were also present on the occasion.
Director Research inaugurated an Indoor Saffron Cultivation during the function at Advanced Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spice SKUAST Dusoo Pampore.
“On this day we invited Saffron growers and scientists of our research centre (ARSSS)- when the growers saw production of saffron cultivated by our experts on scientific lines in the research centre at Dusso and compared this with their production, they were enticed to adopt such technology in their fields, ” Director Extension SKUAST -K Pro. Dil Mohammad Maqdoomi told Kashmir Reader, adding that the farmers had detailed discussion with the experts while farmers brought many issues into their notice and sought their expert guidance to resolve them.
” One crucial query was as to why corms sown by farmers fail, they farmers were given detailed explanation in Kashmiri,” he said.
He also told Kashmir Reader that the farmers thanked them for the establishment of the technology park, which was a joint venture by the Department of agriculture and SKAUST.
He also added that growers were able to benefit from GI tagging of Saffron by getting double the amount as compared to market rate.
” Proper land development, irrigation facility and maintenance of farm is very crucial for saffron cultivation,”
Director Research SKUAST-K Dr Sarfraz Ahmad said, adding that they guide farmers on when to irrigate land and how to do mulching.
He said that they are doing research on Corm rot and that they are coordinating with farmers to find out as to why corm production is decreasing.
During the occasion, farmers also witnessed indoor cultivation of Saffron.Both the directors addressed farmers and provided valuable tips to them.

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