Pilot Project : Smell of Saffron spreads from Kashmir to Northeast, Trials to farm Saffron successful

Srinagar : The fragrance of saffron of Kashmir valley will now extend to the northeast. The central government had started work on a project to find out the compatibility for saffron cultivation in the northeast region, which has been successful in its experiment. Under this, saffron plants have now flowered in Yangyang, the southern part of Sikkim in the northeastern state of Kashmir.

In fact, the North East Center for Technology Applications and Reach (AMRUT), an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, started a pilot project of saffron cultivation in the Northeast. Saffron production in India has long been limited to parts of a certain geographical area of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Pampore region here is considered as the saffron bowl of Kashmir. Some production takes place in Budgam, Srinagar and Kishtwar. Growing saffron was confined to some very special areas of Kashmir, so its production also did not increase that much. However, under the National Mission on Saffron, several experiments were conducted from time to time to improve its cultivation. Despite this, the quality and quantity of saffron increased, but it remained limited to some areas of the valley.

Similarities in soil of Yangyang and Kashmir Valley
The Department of Botany and Horticulture of the Central University of Sikkim tested the soil of Yangyang. The soil quality here is similar to the saffron producing areas of Kashmir. The saffron seeds were then purchased from Kashmir for Yangyang by the department and brought to Yangyang. Successful cultivation of saffron was successful in Yangyang due to similar climatic and geographical conditions. In addition to this, soil testing is being done to implement this project in other areas of the Northeast, so that the possibilities of saffron production in other areas can be tested and promoted.