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| Modi's promise of saffron revolution generates hope | | 'UPA messed saffron mission scheme' | |
Fazal Khan
Srinagar, Aug 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Kargil announced that his government would bring saffron revolution in Jammu and Kashmir, he had said that saffron cultivation would be given a big boost in the state.
"A new unit for saffron will be established in Spices Development Board for this purpose," the Prime Minister had said. Political Pandits in JK while analyzing Modi's comment on saffron revolution in JK said, "Modi meant to say that he wants to turn Jammu and Kashmir in BJP's bastion."
But people associated with the saffron industry believe that he (Modi) had development in his mind and wants to give a "big boost" to the saffron cultivation in Kashmir.
"There is no doubt about the fact that saffron industry in Kashmir has suffered a lot during the past few years and the much hyped schemes which were announced by the former Congress led UPA-I and UPA-II regimes in the past proved to be a damp squib," an expert told Early Times.
He said that in 2005 the then union minister Jai Ram Ramesh announced a slew of measures for "revolutionizing" the saffron industry in Kashmir. "He (Ramesh) announced a centrally sponsored scheme for the farmers involved in saffron cultivation," the expert recollected.
He said scheme is in vogue still but officials only know whether its benefits are reaching the farmers or not.
A top official while talking to Early Times said that central government had sanctioned Rs 25, 300 per kanal for the farmers. "The farmers were asked to carry out the fresh digging and dig bore wells for irrigating their fields. State received the money during the initial years but it became irregular along with the passage of time," he added. The official said that money meant for framers on many occasions was spent by the state government to release the salaries of the employees. According to the details available with Early Times in 1996 in Pampore area 5707 hectare was under saffron cultivation and production used to hover around 3 to 4 kilograms per hectare. A recent survey conducted by a private NGO states that at present only 3500 hectare of land is under saffron cultivation in Pampore and adjoining areas and production has declined to 2 kilograms per hectare. Land under saffron cultivation is shrinking with each passing day.
The survey states that haphazard conversion of agricultural land into residential colonies and no irrigation facility available in these areas have hit the saffron cultivation. A top official of the state government said, "The previous regime headed by the Congress in centre failed to implement the saffron mission scheme in letter and spirit.
There were too many lacunas which needed to be looked into but nothing was done to address these."
An expert said Modi talking about saffron cultivation in his speech is an encouraging development. "Prime Minister taking interest in development of Kashmir shows that Valley tops his agenda. saffron cultivation has suffered a lot due to the indifferent attitude of the previous regimes."
He said, "Let's hope Modi converts his slogan of equitable development into reality. I believe Modi's statement about bringing saffron revolution in Kashmir was more about the development rather than being political one." |
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