The saffron bowl, which has so far been confined to Kashmir, may now expand to the northeast as well.

The Northeast Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), a body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), supported a pilot project to explore the feasibility of growing saffron in the northeast region of the country with the same quality.

National Mission on Saffron

• National Mission on Saffron was launched in Jammu & Kashmir during 2010-11 for revival of saffron cultivation as a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. 

• Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus. Also known as the golden spice, it is one of the most expensive spices in the world. 

• Jammu & Kashmir is among the top Saffron producing areas in the world.

• Saffron is in great demand for its medicinal, cosmetic and aromatic properties. The blossoms appear during late autumn from mid October to early November.

• 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 the saffron bowl of Kashmir, is the main contributor to saffron production, followed by Budgam, Srinagar, and Kishtwar districts. 

• 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.

Pilot project in northeast

• The Botany and Horticulture department of Sikkim Central University carried out tests to understand the soil condition of Yangyang of Sikkim and found it comparable to the 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 September and October, which ensured timely sprouting and good flower yields. 

• The matching of climatic and geographical conditions between Pampore and Yangyang led to the successful sample farming of saffron.

• 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 northeast region along with micro food enterprises.

North East Centre for Technology Application & Reach (NECTAR)

• NECTAR is an autonomous society set up under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) with its headquarters in Shillong in Meghalaya. 

• It is conceived as a collaborative centre of excellence to resolve the last mile problem in the delivery, induction, management, use and extension of technology applications which serve public good and promote social and economic development of the northeast region in the broadest possible terms. 

• The overall operational aim is to infuse, build and sustain a culture of gainful applications of technology at the ground level among users and to fill the void that persists at present in reaching to people, communities and end users technology applications that remain unavailable to them. 

• In order to assist the northeastern region, NECTAR ensures applications of appropriate technologies for development in the areas of biodiversity concerns, watershed management, telemedicine, horticulture, infrastructure planning & development, planning and monitoring, and tele-schooling using cutting-edge MESHNET solutions, employment generation, etc through utilisation of local products/resources and associated skill development.

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