Growers demand sale outlet for GI-tagged saffron along national highway; DC assures support

PAMPORE: Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Dr Basharat Qayoom on Wednesday visited India International Saffron Trade Centre (IIKSTC) at Dusoo Pampore where he inspected various departments of the processing unit. He was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Peerzada Farhat, Additional Deputy Commissioner Awantipora Zaffar Husson Shawl, Tehsildar Pampore Zuber Ahmad Bhat, BDO Pampore Mohammad Ashraf and other officers.
The DC Pulwama also interacted with the staff members and technical experts of the IIKSTC Dusoo.
Later on, the DC held a review meeting with Agriculture offices and farmers at the IIKSTC. The meeting was attended by ADC Awantipora Zaffar Husson Shawl, ADC Pulwama Peerzada Farhat, Tehsildar Pampore Zuber Ahmad Bhat, Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama Mohammad Iqbal Khan, Administrator IIKSTC Shahnawaz Ahmad Shah, Chief, BDO Pampore Mohammad Ashraf, other officers and Saffron growers led by its president Abdul Majeed Wani.
During the meeting, various important issues were discussed like GI Tagged Saffron marketing, decline of Saffron corms, Irrigation facilities, functioning of borewells and enhanced market linkages for assured returns and other important issues.
The saffron growers demanded a sale outlet for GI Tagged Saffron along the Srinagar Jammu national highway in the Lethpora area.
The DC assured that all their issues will be looked into and redressed on top priority. He termed the meeting as fruitful and told Kashmir Reader that many decisions were taken in it.
“A spice centre is functioning here for the past many years under the National Saffron Mission. Pampore is known for growing world-famous saffron. Today, we had a meeting which participated by a team of administration, agriculture employees of this centre and progressive farmers, members of FPOs,” the DC Pulwamasaid, adding that threadbare discussions were held on saffron corms, marketing and area under cultivation.
He added that under HADP prepared by the government, saffron is among 29 focus areas. Farmers have to have the responsibility to preserve corms as traditionally it was farmers who used to produce corms on their land, he said.
The government will intervene where it is necessary, he said, adding that irrigation is another issue which will be strengthened.
Talking to Kashmir Reader, the president of All Saffron Growers Association, Abdul Majeed Wani said, “We suggested that for marketing of GI-tagged saffron, the administration should set up a sale outlet along the national highway which will benefit farmers in selling the Saffron to visitors. The DC assured us that the administration will help them in marketing by opening such an outlet.”
Javid Ahmad, a saffron grower said that the decline in saffron corms was discussed in length. “Farmers suggested that the government should work in a mission mode to revive saffron corms. There should be a corm nursery in each saffron-growing village. One kanal of land can yield up to 5 quintals of corms. The farmers can play their role in producing corms.”

BILAL HABIB