Page 38 - NIS English January1-15

NEW HOPE
NEW DAWN SAFFRON CULTIVATION

GOING SAFFRON WAY

National Mission on Saffron focuses on
several measures to improve farming of

Saffron as ‘Saffron Bowl’ of India extends to
the North Eastern state of Sikkim

o achieve twin objectives of diversifying North East Centre For Technology Application
agriculture sector to double the income of and Reach (NECTAR), an autonomous body
Tfarmers and making AatmaNirbhar Bharat under the DST in collaboration with the Botany
a reality, Saffron cultivation is being extended to and Horticulture departments of Sikkim Central
the North-Eastern region of the country. University implemented a pilot project in
Earlier, Saffron production was restricted to Yangyang village of south Sikkim.
Pampore region of Jammu & Kashmir, which is The university department carried out tests to
commonly known as 'Saffron Bowl'. Budgam, understand the soil and actual pH conditions of
Srinagar and Kishtwar are some other districts Yangyang and found it comparable to saffron
where Saffron is cultivated. Plants from seeds growing places of Kashmir. Saffron seed/corms
were transported from Kashmir to Sikkim and were air transported from Kashmir to Yangyang
were acclimatised in Yangyang site by the department. One
village in southern part of Sikkim. saffron grower was engaged
India produces 6-7 Tonnes of BENEFITS and stationed to look after the
l Extension of Saffron
saffron while demand is for 100 complete growing process,
production will help in
Tonnes per annum. To meet the along with the university
meeting the annual
growing demand, the Ministry of faculty.
demand in India. It will
Science and Technology, through The corms were irrigated
help in reducing imports
the Department of Science and during the months of
l It will also help in
Technology (DST), decided to September and October,
diversifying agriculture
extend its cultivation to some which ensured timely corm
and provide new
states in the North East (Sikkim opportunities to farmers sprouting and good flower
now, and later to Meghalaya and in North East yields. Similar climatic and
Arunachal Pradesh). There is l India cultivates about 6 geographical conditions in
a huge similarity of climate and to 7 Tonnes of saffron Pampore (Kashmir) and
geographical conditions between while the demand is for Yangyang (Sikkim) led to the
Kashmir and a few regions of the 100 Tonnes successful sample farming of
North East. saffron in Yangyang.

36 New India Samachar