Kashmiri saffron is now an all-India plant

The saffron bowl, which was so far confined to Kashmir, may soon expand to the North East of India. Plants from seeds transported from Kashmir to Sikkim and acclimatised there are now flowering in Yangyang in the Southern part of the North-East state. Saffron production has long been restricted to a limited geographical area in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

Pampore region, in India, commonly known as Saffron bowl of Kashmir, is the main contributor to saffron production, followed by Budgam, Srinagar, and Kishtwar districts. Saffron has traditionally been associated with the famous Kashmiri cuisine. Its medicinal values were considered as part of the rich cultural heritage of Kashmir. As saffron growing was confined to very specific areas in Kashmir, its production remained limited. Though the National Mission on Saffron focused on several measures to improve its farming, the measures were still limited to the specified areas of Kashmir.

North East Centre For Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India supported a pilot project to explore the feasibility of growing saffron in North East region of India, with the same quality and higher quantity. The Botany and Horticulture department of Sikkim Central University carried out tests to understand the soil and actual pH conditions of Yangyang of Sikkim and found it comparable to saffron growing places of Kashmir. Saffron seeds/corms were purchased and air transported from Kashmir to Yangyang site by the department.

One saffron grower was engaged and stationed to look after the complete growing process, along with the faculty of the university. The corms were irrigated during the month of September and October, which ensured timely corn sprouting and good flower yields. The matching of climatic and geographical conditions between Pampore (Kashmir) and Yangyang (Sikkim) led to the successful sample farming of Saffron in Yangyang.

The project also focused on post-harvest management and value addition of saffron so that quality saffron drying and efficient post-harvest processing can improve saffron recovery, thereby improving its production. Further, detailed analysis and testing of all parameters, including soil testing, quality, quantity, and possible value addition are planned, for immediate results and extrapolation of the project to other parts of the North East Region along with Micro Food Enterprises.

The 67th Plenary Session of North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong in July in 2018 gave a boost to the ongoing development activities in the region. It was here that, for the first time, the Centre spelt out its promise to lay a road to "New India'' through a developed and peaceful "New North East". It was said that the "New North East' will emerge with better road connectivity and Information Technology which will generate employment opportunities for the youth closer to their homes.

Hope the efforts are well received by the North East which is a few decades behind the rest of India. Credit must go to the BJP-led NDA government which is doing its best to keep its word regarding the overall development of the region keeping aside the politics.