J&K halts decline in saffron cultivation, plans expansion, says Agri Minister Dar
Jammu: National Conference (NC) senior leader and MLA Pampore criticized the 2010 Saffron Mission project, calling it a major failure.
He highlighted that the Rs 400 crore initiative has not delivered expected results. He urged authorities to launch an investigation into the project’s shortcomings and its ineffective implementation. Masoodi said this during a query on Saffron Mission in legislative assembly today.
Masoodi expressed concerns over alleged malpractices in the implementation of the Mission. In 2010, the government introduced the National Saffron Mission to improve saffron productivity in the region. Under the Mission, the authorities introduced a drip irrigation system to fight the long drawn out dry spells impacting the yield. However, the initiative remained contentious with saffron cultivators claiming that the authorities left the drip irrigation process half way through.
Supported by CPI(M) legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Masoodi demanded a comprehensive probe into the RS 400 crore scheme to investigate possible fund misappropriation or project mismanagement.
Speaking to reporters outside the House, Masoodi said that the Mission was aimed at promoting the cultivation of the saffron. “But it is very unfortunate that nothing is visible on the ground”, he said. Masoodi said the mission had two components—one focused on land rejuvenation and the other on sprinkler irrigation.
“Under the Mission, some 124 borewells were installed, but none of them is functional”, Masoodi said. He said that nothing had been done in terms of the rejuvenation either. Masoodi said that a sharp decline had been witnessed in the saffron production. “Overall, the Saffron Mission has failed”, he added.
Masoodi said that a Saffron Park was also established to assist farmers and do away with the middlemen. “The facility this year, I think, only received 80 kgs of saffron”, Masoodi said. He said that he had raised the issue in this backdrop.
Minister for Agricultural Production and Rural Development Department, Javed Ahmad Dar acknowledged the concerns of the legislators and assured the House that the department would look into the matter. “A departmental inquiry will be initiated if needed,” he said.
Dar however informed that the National Mission on Saffron has made significant advancements, particularly strengthening of the irrigation system, rejuvenating 2,548.75 hectares of saffron land. He added that government has successfully halted decline in saffron area and area under this crop has remained at 3,715 hectares (3665 Ha in Kashmir division and 50 Ha in Kishtwar) since 2010-11, with more areas identified for expansion supported by HADP. He further said that the productivity has enhanced from 2.50 kg/ha in 2009-10 to a maximum recorded productivity of 4.42 kg/ha in rejuvenated areas during 2023.
He said that the National Mission on Saffron initiated a plan to construct a network of 124 community bore-wells. Each bore-well is intended to serve an area of 30 hectares, connected to sprinkler irrigation systems designed to support the irrigation needs of a total of 3,665 hectares of saffron fields.
He further informed that 85 bore-wells have been handed over to the Agriculture Department, however, efforts to construct the remaining 39 bore-wells have faced significant obstacles. Despite multiple invitations for tenders, there has been consistently poor participation in the tendering process. This lack of response has resulted in a substantial delay in further developing the necessary irrigation infrastructure.
