The Minister for Agriculture Production, Javed Ahmad Dar today 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.
The Minister while replying to a question by Justice Hasnain Masoodi in the Legislative Assembly further said that the 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.
He said that the Committee formed by the Government has found that 77 bore-wells are not functional for a long time.
The Minister said that a 400 Crore project had been sanctioned during 2010-11 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Corporation, Government of India for boosting Saffron production and economic revival.
He further informed that the establishment of Saffron Park/IIKSTC has helped farmers realize enhanced prices, increasing from Rs. 80,000 per kg to Rs. 2,20,000 per kg during 2021-22. Implementation of various scientific post-harvest processing methods increased saffron stigma recovery from 22g/kg to 28g/kg (an increase of 6g/kg) during 2021-22.
Through the mission, new technologies were implemented via Indian Institute of Kashmir Saffron and Technology Center (IIKSTC), leading to an increase in saffron colour quality from 8 percent (traditional drying) to 16 percent (scientific drying), the minister added.
He further said that the Mission addressed the issue of intermediaries exploiting saffron growers by implementing e-auctions at IIKSTC. This ensured fair farm-gate prices and enabled transparent transactions across India, effectively reducing the influence of intermediaries.
The Minister said that the Agriculture Department has made concerted efforts to combat disruptive activities of un-desirable elements among the saffron growing farmers which included damaging of sprinkler irrigation systems/bore-wells. The presence of Real-Estate players/land grabbers pose a significant threat to the success of saffron cultivation, in the area, complaints have also been lodged with the concerned revenue officials, he added.
While monitoring and evaluating the activities carried out under the Mission the Minister said that it is clearly suggestive that majority of the objectives and outcomes have been achieved under the Mission, however, a couple of objectives have remained incomplete due to various factors.
The Department has consistently involved local leadership and saffron growers in policy decisions to benefit farmers. Committees comprising saffron farmers, traders, civil society members, and other stakeholders have been formed to ensure their views are considered, the Minister maintained.
Sunil Sharma, M Y Tarigami and Arjun Singh raised supplementaries on the question.
132 Cr expended for augmenting drinking water supply in Bandipora : Javed Ahmad Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana today informed the House that an amount of Rs 132 crore has been expanded for augmentation of drinking water supply schemes under JJM/ UT Capex/ AMRUT 2.0 in Bandipora constituency.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Nizam-u-din Bhat in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister further stated that DPR for WSS Bandipora Town project to be undertaken under AMRUT 2.0 is being surveyed and framed.
He further said that providing portable drinking water to every Household is a project of national importance launched by the Prime Minister in 2019 under Jal Jeevan Mission for the rural areas and the same has been launched under AMRUT-2.0 for the Urban areas in Jammu & Kashmir.
On status of Aham-Sharief-Athwatoo- Waven WSS in terms of filtration component, the Minister said that the scheme has been made functional for Herpora Athwatoo and Tanghtari habitations were as for Bunpora Athwatoo/ Tanghat it is 60 percent complete. Similarly, for Ahamsharief it is 70 percent complete and for Waven the stage of completion is 65 percent.
Nazir Gurezi, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Choudhary Mohammad Akram raised supplementaries on the question.(KINS)
