Pulwama, June 07 : Saffron growers from various areas of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have demanded authorities for setting up a marketing facility for selling of GI tagged saffron along Srinagar Jammu National Highway ( NH).
President All Saffron Growers Association, Abdul Majeed Wani, said that in a meet with Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Dr Basharat Qayoom at IIKST ( India International Kashmir Saffron Trade Centre) Dusso Pampore on Wednesday various stakeholders strongly demanded sale outlet for GI tagged saffron along National Highway in Lethpora area of Pulwama .
He said that it was put before the DC Pulwama that a sale outlet along National Highway will help farmers in selling their G I tagged saffron to visitors.
The demand came after many farmers have been aggrieved with slow sale of saffron at IIKSTC this year.
“ The stock of GI tagged saffron which is still unsold at IIKSTC will sell in one month if a marketing facility is set up along National Highway,” another farmer, Javid Ahmad, said , adding that there is a huge rush of tourists along the national highway these days and they buy saffron from there from various private sellers.
“GI tagged saffron authenticated by IIKSTC will sell at higher rates in the open market,” he said, adding that it will boost confidence of saffron growers for processing their produce through IIKSTC.
He said that IIKSTC at Dusso area of Pampore is away from National Highway and it has been seen tourists usually don’t visit there.
He added that on each day around 30 kilograms of dry saffron is sold by different private persons to tourists along the National Highway in Lethpora.
“We can sell GI at a much higher rate if a marketing facility is set up there,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Dr Basharat Qayoom said that in today’s stakeholder meeting improved market linkage came as one of the suggestions.
“The demand shall be examined keeping different market linkage options into consideration,” he said.
