Pulwama, Nov 26: The scientists of Sher-e -Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology ( SKUAST) have been working on indoor corm production under controlled conditions.
The new project comes under the backdrop of the Varsity’s endeavour to replicate indoor saffron cultivation at non -traditional areas of the country like Delhi, Punjab, Kerala and Haryana.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, head of SKUAST-K’s Saffron Research Station and Seed Spices, Dr Bashir Ahmad Allie said that after successful demonstration of indoor saffron cultivation in Kashmir and replicating it at residences of some growers they are experimenting to indoor saffron cultivation under controlled conditions to non traditional areas of the country.
He said that the experimentation was carried out on the instructions of VC -SKUAST-K Dr Nazir Ahmad Ganie.
“ On the basis of research carried out so far we are hopeful that indoor saffron cultivation under controlled conditions can be done at other places outside Kashmir,” he said.
He explained that indoor saffron cultivation has two phases.
He added that during phase one corms are procured in June -July for installation in multi tier racks inside a room with maintaining temperature, light and humidity and flowers harvested from October till 10th November.
He said that during phase two corms are taken out from racks and immediately placed under soil( open field) following a high density module to ensure supply of healthy and productive corms for next season.
“ Both these cycles are easy to execute in a temperate place like Kashmir,” he said, adding that an important hindrance in replicating this technology at non-traditional areas was how to do Corm production under controlled conditions.
“ For this we have been carrying out experiments to find out requirements of light, temperature and humidity for Corm production under controlled conditions so that the corms produced are productive,” he said.
He revealed that the research work is in progress and once they come to a conclusion the results will be shared withconcerned quarters.
