Advisor Skandan reviews progress under Saffron Rejuvenation Programme

Seeks report on achievements in targeted areas
JAMMU, FEB 12: Advisor to Governor, K Skandan today chaired a meeting to review the achievements under Saffron Rejuvenation Programme and sought the status report on Saffron Park being developed at Pulwama.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Director, Agriculture, Jammu, H K Razdan besides other senior officers of the department. Director, Agriculture, Kashmir, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi who is also the Mission Director of National Mission on Saffron, J&K, joined the meeting through video conference.
The Advisor sought details on the potential in saffron production, families linked with saffron cultivation, distribution of soil health cards to the farmers and registration of traders.
He was briefed about the component wise cumulative achievements under National Mission on Saffron. It was informed that a total of 32,401 farmer families living in 120 villages in Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar and Kishtwar are associated with the saffron cultivation.
While reviewing the status report on the Saffron Park at Pulwama, the Advisor was informed that the said park is nearing completion. The Advisor asked the concerned to make the Saffron Park functional soon.
Discussion was also held on proposed Saffron Park at Kishtwar. The Advisor directed the concerned Directors to visit Kishtwar to get the on field status of the proposed Saffron Park besides reviewing the progress under the rejuvenation programme in the area.
The Advisor further enquired about the installation of sprinkler system for saffron fields and directed the concerned functionaries for monitoring on daily basis.
He directed for submission of monthly report so that necessary interventions can be made by the government for expediting the Saffron Mission.
Seeking information about saffron regulatory rules, the Advisor stressed on the circulation of these rules to all the stakeholders. He stressed on sensitizing the farmers and every single stakeholder of the saffron sector for effective implementation of the rules.