Фермеры Кашмира призывают запретить вывоз шафрана и создать питомники для спасения культуры

SRINAGAR: Concern is growing among saffron growers in south Kashmir over the continued shortage of quality saffron corms, with farmers and local stakeholders urging the authorities to strengthen measures to prevent their illegal transportation outside Jammu and Kashmir and establish dedicated nurseries for multiplying quality planting material. The demand comes at a time when Kashmir’s traditional saffron industry is already facing several challenges, including changing weather conditions, fluctuations in productivity and inadequate availability of healthy planting material. Growers said that the unchecked removal of saffron corms from the Valley could further weaken the crop by reducing the stock available for local cultivation. “Saffron is not merely an agricultural commodity for us; it is our heritage and livelihood. If quality corms leave Kashmir illegally, there will be less planting material available for local farmers in the coming years,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a saffron grower from Pampore. Another grower said that the shortage of good-quality corms was already affecting farmers and that authorities should focus on creating a reliable system for producing and distributing certified planting material. “Farmers should not be forced to depend on whatever planting material is available in the market. The government needs to ensure that healthy and quality corms are produced locally and made available to growers at reasonable rates,” he said. Farmers have welcomed the Agriculture Department’s plan to establish Saffron Seed Multiplication Nurseries in the Pampore area, saying the initiative could play a crucial role in addressing the shortage of quality corms. The proposed nurseries are expected to multiply healthy planting material and create a dependable source of quality corms for growers. Farmers believe that expanding such facilities across major saffron-growing areas could reduce pressure on existing corm stocks and help revive fields where cultivation has declined. Agriculture officials said that they have already restricted the transportation and export of saffron corms outside Kashmir, warning that violations could invite action under the Saffron Act, 2007 and the Seed Act, 1966. An official said conserving saffron planting material was essential for protecting the crop’s future in Kashmir. “Restricting the transportation of saffron corms outside the Valley is an important step towards conserving the planting material available in Kashmir,” he said, adding that the department is also working towards establishing Saffron Seed Multiplication Nurseries in Pampore. Officials said the nurseries would help multiply quality corms and make them available to local farmers, thereby reducing the possibility of a shortage during the sowing season. Kashmir’s saffron, popularly known as the region’s “red gold”, is primarily cultivated in Pampore and adjoining areas of Pulwama district. The crop is valued not only for its economic importance but also for its distinctive aroma, colour, flavour and medicinal properties. However, the sector has experienced fluctuations in production over the years. Government data presented in the Assembly showed saffron production at 17.33 metric tonnes in 2021, which declined to 14.87 MT in 2022 before registering a marginal increase to 14.94 MT in 2023. The data also showed that the total cultivated area remained around 3,715 hectares, while productivity fluctuated from year to year. Farmers say the figures underline the need for sustained investment in irrigation, scientific cultivation, quality planting material and field rejuvenation. Growers maintain that while government schemes have helped improve some saffron fields, the gains could be undermined if healthy corms are continuously removed from the Valley. They said that if the government doesn’t take immediate action and steps in this regard, there will be no traces of this crop in the coming years. With the extraction season approaching, farmers have urged the Agriculture Department and law enforcement agencies to intensify inspections at roads, markets and other vulnerable points to prevent illegal movement of corms. They have also called for registration and proper documentation of corm dealers, regular field-level verification and strict action against those involved in unauthorised transportation. Farmers further urged the government to create a structured mechanism under which quality corms could be multiplied, certified and distributed among growers before the planting season. They said protecting saffron corms today was essential to safeguarding the crop’s future, particularly at a time when younger generations were increasingly reluctant to remain dependent on traditional agriculture. (KNO)