Agri deptt enforces blanket ban on ‘Saffron Corm’ export

Pulwama, Aug 16: The Directorate of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare, Kashmir, has intensified efforts to enforce a blanket ban on the export of saffron corms from the valley, aiming to protect the region’s saffron industry from illegal trade practices.
Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director of Agriculture Production and Farmers
Welfare, Kashmir, revealed that a mafia had been involved in the illegal export of saffron corms outside the valley.
In response to credible inputs, the Directorate enforced the ban in 2023 under the Saffron Act of 2007 and the Seed Act of 1966.
“This ban is crucial for safeguarding the interests of local saffron farmers and ensuring the success of ongoing agricultural projects,” said Iqbal in an interview with Rising Kashmir. He highlighted that, unlike previous years, the department has reached out to various government agencies, including traffic and railway authorities, to ensure comprehensive enforcement of the ban.
Iqbal warned that the unchecked export of saffron corms could lead to a severe depletion of plantation material in Kashmir within the next two years. To prevent this, surveillance teams have been formed to monitor the extraction and sowing of saffron corms in the fields. Additionally, field employees are making public announcements to raise awareness about the ban, and different media channels are being utilized to inform the public.
The Director emphasized that while the department is taking stringent measures to curb the illegal trade, public cooperation is vital. Officials from the Department of Agriculture Kashmir have assessed the available germplasm and concluded that a shortage of saffron corms could jeopardize the “Promotion of Niche Crops,” a flagship initiative under the High-Altitude Development Program (HADP). This project focuses on expanding saffron cultivation in identified hotspot areas within the Kashmir Division.
Despite the ban, reports have surfaced that some individuals continue to illicitly transport saffron corms out of the valley, threatening the livelihoods of local farmers and the success of the project.
Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Mohammad Iqbal Khan, stated that the Directorate has called upon various departments, including the Traffic Police, Railway Protection Force, Airports Authority of India, and State Taxes Department, to ensure strict enforcement of the ban across all transportation channels, including roadways, railways, airways, and courier services.
Khan warned that violators would face legal action under the Saffron Act and Seed Act. He also mentioned that any seized corms, being perishable, would be transferred to the nursery at the India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC) for multiplication and future distribution to local farmers.
The department is actively mobilizing farmers to raise awareness about the region’s deficit in saffron corms and the potential harm that illegal export could cause to Kashmir’s saffron industry. “We are committed to stopping the illegal export of saffron corms from Kashmir,” Khan affirmed.