9 saffron clusters formed in Pampore for organic certification

Pulwama, Dec 13: The Department of Agriculture Production and Farmer Welfare has registered 9 saffron clusters in Pampore zone of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district for organic certification.
Agriculture Extension Officer ( AEO) Pampore , Ishtiyaq Ahmad, revealed that the saffron clusters in different areas of Pampore zone have been registered under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna( PKVY) which is a subcomponent of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
He narrated that the scheme has been on since 2014 and its prime motive is to encourage organic cultivation of various crops including vegetables.
“This time we have been sensitising saffron farmers and have formed 9 clusters in different areas of Pampore,” he said, adding that each cluster has around 50 growers and 20 hectares of land.
The agriculture officer explained that saffron is almost organic as growers use least amount of chemicals in this farming activity.
He said that they will take an undertaking from these farmers to use only organic fertilisers and chemicals.
“After three years of registration the farmers will get organic certification for their produce,” he said, adding that the benefit of this certification is that it will ensure a comparatively high rate for their produce in the market.
He added that PKVY collaborated with Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) India in 2014 to enable the registered clusters to avail organic certificate along with some incentives.
He said that they have received some funds under PKVY and they will utilise them for procurement of vermicompost for the registered clusters.
He said that the vermicompost will be used as organic manure by the saffron growers.
He added that next year there may be some other incentive for these clusters under PKVY.
The agriculture officer informed that after one year the registered clusters will receive a green logo from PGS India which will enable them to sell their produce as organic in the Indian market for next three years.