Srinagar, Nov 22: A day after Kishtwar Saffron received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry, the Department of Agriculture and District Administration Kishtwar on Wednesday said they had initiated several initiatives that helped to improve socio-economic status of farms in the district.
Chief Agriculture Officer Kishtwar, Amjad Hussian Malik said they took many initiatives over the years to further push saffron production and the major was indoor saffron cultivation technology which was introduced in Kishtwar this year.
“We have ensured area expansion under saffron in Saffron Development Farm and in traditional as well non-traditional areas of district Kishtwar,” he said.
Notably, the department has also introduced the latest cultivation techniques imparted to farmers across the district through training in collaboration with Spice Board SKUAST-J and scientists from Advance Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spices Kashmir.
“Providing market avenues to local growers as well as FPOs and Local For Vocal Entrepreneurs through PARC (Mumbai), JKTPO and Horticulture Producer Marketing was done, resulting in enhancement of the price of Kishtwari Saffron as well demand for National and International Markets,” he said.
With the efforts of the District Administration Kishtwar, a monumental accomplishment has been realised which is the GI labelling of Kishtwar Saffron, marked as Grade 1, a first for the region.
“The District Administration Kishtwar, Agriculture Department and FPOs of Kishtwar continue to strive towards using Kashmir Saffron GI tagging specifically for Kishtwar saffron, ensuring the recognition and distinction it rightfully deserves in the national and international markets,” the CAO said.
He said the soils of the district are most appropriate for the cultivation of saffron crops on the basis of soil texture, soil structure, soil profile, pH value and chemical characteristics of the soil and its cultivation has been in practice since time immemorial.
The CAO said the total area under saffron cultivation in the traditional area is 202 hectares and production approximately ranges from 9-10 Qtls under adoption of good cultivation while the local market value of the said produce is nearly 20 cr to 22 crore rupees.
The official said the total potential area under saffron crop in district Kishtwar is about 742 hectares as of date which includes about 50 hectares of agricultural land designated as non-traditional and 692 hectares as traditional area for saffron crop.
The main villages where saffron is grown are Pochhal, Sangrambhata, Cherhar, Dugga, Berwar, Hullar, Hatta, Sarkoot, Berrabhata, Matta, Hidyal, Hudri, Drab, Arsi, Tund, Lanyl, Malipeth, Begana, etc. There are 4670 families engaged in saffron cultivation.
“In the non-traditional area of district Kishtwar, we have nearly 50 hectares land under saffron cultivation. The prominent villages are Thakraie, Kuchhal, Kuchhan, Inderwal/Chatru, Palmar, Trigam, Dool, Padyarna, Nagseni, Padder (Ligri & Tata Pani) and some villages of Drabshalla and Dachhan blocks,” Malik said.
The CAO said Kishtwar Saffron is superior in quality, fragrance and usefulness and it is a condiment used in medicines, cooking of vegetables and applying of the mark (Tilak) on forehead by the Hindus in India and largely used in various temples.
“In Jammu province, Kishtwar is the only saffron-growing district. Saffron has high medicinal value and has helped to increase the Socio-Economic Status of the farms,” he said.
The CAO said the traditional practices of Saffron cultivation in Kishtwar like early picking (before sun rise) and stigma separation within 2-3 hours of picking make it valuable in terms of flavour, pigment colour and aroma apart from other Saffron in the world.
