Excelsior Correspondent
PAMPORE, Sept 17: Member Parliament (MP), Gh Nabi Ratanpuri has said that it is the need of hour to initiate steps for protection of heritage saffron besides increasing productivity and improving its quality. This he said while visiting saffron fields of Lethpora,Chandhara and Konibal to review the implementation of National Mission on Saffron.
While interacting with saffron growers, he asked them to avail the benefits of National Mission on Saffron for improving their socio-economic condition. He asked officers and officials of the Department to work in unison with farmers to ensure transfer of technologies to achieve higher production. He said that Government has launched this programme to increase production and productivity of saffron. During visit he also inspected the site of Spice Park at Dusoo.
Director Agriculture, Kashmir Dr. Farooq Ahmed Lone apprised Ratanpuri that aim of National Mission on Saffron is to increase production, productivity, maintaining quality and improving marketing facilities for saffron growers. He said that in order to provide adequate marketing cover to saffron growers and eliminate middle man exploitation, a Spice Park with quality lab will be established. He said that Rs 22.60 crore have been earmarked for construction of Spice Park. He said that during current year 1000 hectares of traditional saffron land will be brought under rejuvenation of saffron corms under the mission.
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