PAMPORE: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo today inaugurated Saffron Field Day at Patabagh here.
While inaugurating the Saffron Field Day, Dulloo remarked that GI Tag of Kashmiri Saffron has made it prominent in the international market and built its reputation globally. He added that GI Tag not only enhanced the farmers incomes but also provided sustainable and secure income generation source for them.
The ACS further said that the marketing and promotion of the product with the GI Tag has enhanced the secondary economic activities here, which in turn boosted the regional economic development.
Dulloo also said that the protection of geographical indications created a positive image and reputation of the product in the minds of the consumers and rewards the producers with incentives and a means to exchange cultural values.
The ACS on the occasion also highlighted that efforts are on to address different issues regarding irrigation facilities, good quality corms, among others. He said that lot of work has been done under National Saffron Mission and effective infrastructure has been established through it.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, Baseer Ul Haq Choudhary briefed the ACS about the effective implementation of National Saffron Mission and land use under Saffron cultivation. He also briefed him about the status of other flag ship programs like PM KISSAN, etc.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal on the occasion said that the motive to celebrate the saffron field day is to disseminate information regarding the latest research on the crop. He added that through this program the saffron growers got an opportunity to interact with the technical experts of the department who raised awareness about the latest technologies and developments in the field of saffron production.
Later, Atal Dulloo also distributed Saffron rejuvenation Incentive cheques as well as tractors among farmers besides sanction letters among Saffron growers were also distributed.
SSP, Awantipora, Mohammad Yousuf; DDC member, Patabagh, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs, Deputy Director Agriculture Planning, Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, senior officers and a large number of saffron growers were present on the occasion.