Srinagar: Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal today reviewed the functioning of India International Kashmir Saffron Trade Centre (IIKSTC). During today’s visit to the IIKSTC Dussoo Pampore Director Agriculture Chaired a meeting of the concerned officers and technical experts in the centre.
Director Agriculture visited different sections of the trade centre and was briefed by the concerned officers regarding the functioning of different units (including packing, labeling, grading and e-auctioning unit) of the IIKSTC.
Speaking on the occasion Director Agriculture Kashmir said that the centre must adopt the latest trends regarding the quality control and marketing of saffron. He asked the concerned officer to take feedback from the saffron growers and make all the efforts to ensure that their interests are safe guarded.
Director said the e-auctioning facility at the centre created by the department aims at providing platform to the buyers to have access to quality ‘’Kashmir Saffron’’ and will help saffron viewers for getting optimum returns of their yield which will ultimately boost the economy of the saffron growers without the interference of intermediaries.
He further added that the saffron purchased through this platform is tested/certified quality produce. Iqbal said that department is eying new markets at national and international level in future with respect to the marketing of saffron therefore, new marketing channels need to be explored.
Later on Director Agriculture held an interactive session with the team of National Accreditation Board for testing and calibration laboratories lead by NABL Accessor S.C. JOSHI. Director agriculture expressed his views regarding the functioning of IIKSTC to the visiting team. He further discussed various initiatives taken by the trade centre for the development of saffron sector. Different facilities provided to the saffron farmers by the India International Kashmir Saffron Trade Centre were also discussed threadbare.
Director Agriculture was accompanied by administrator IIKSTC Shahnawaz Ahmad Shah and some senior officers of the department.

KR Desk