PAMPORE: Spice Board, Regional Office, Srinagar in collaboration with Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, Government of J&K, started the series of Development Training Program for Youth of Kashmir Involved in Saffron Cultivation.
The first day programme of the series is being conducted at India International Kashmir Saffron Trade Center (IIKSTC) Dusoo Pampore.
The programme is aimed to attract youth of Kashmir in Saffron cultivation and take up it as a business rather than mere cultivation and continue the legacy of saffron from the state, officials told Kashmir Reader.
Programme was steered by Ashutosh Gautam, Scientist and Officer Incharge, Spices Board, Srinagar and witnessed the attendance of around 80 farmers from pulwama district, official from IIKSTC, SKUAST-K, Shalimar and Advance Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spices, officials told Kashmir Reader.
The officials include B. Venkateson, Director (Development), Spices Board joined virtually from Kochi, Kerala, Technical Deliberation, Ashutosh Gautam, Scientist Spices Board, Prof F.A. Nehavi, Consultant Spices Board, IIKSTC, Khurshid Mir, Muzamil Salmani, SKUAST-K: Dr. Bashir Ahmad Allie, Dr. N.A. Dar, Dr. Khurshid Hussain, Dr. Abu Manzar, FPO Chairman Abdul Majeed Wani A progressive farmer, Member of Kisan Advisory Board Irshad Ahmad Dar present on the occasion.
Talking to Kashmir Reader Ashutosh Gautam, Scientist Spices Board, said that the first generation of Kashmiri did a good job for cultivation of saffron.
” We want to carry the scheme for youth, we want to capture the saffron production for youth, they should take it as a business opportunity because it has a lot of scope,” he said, adding that the programme was for training the youth.
He added that the training programme will be repeated at other places.
Irshad Ahmad, a progressive farmer and member of Kisan advisory board who participated in the training programme told Kashmir Reader ” The aim of the programme was to train youth in latest techniques to grow saffron and marketing trends,” he said, adding that the saffron board’s training programme was focused to make youth saffron entrepreneurs.
He appreciated the government for organizing this training programme.

BILAL HABIB