Srinagar, June 07 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, symbol of Kashmiri culture and world famous saffron is losing ground, as the puppet administration has adopted apathetic approach towards the saffron growers.

Dr Farooq Ahmad Aga from Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology while talking to mediamen in Srinagar said that the concerned authorities had no plan to revive saffron farming and also the farmers were not being provided with better irrigation facilities. He added, “Saffron is a sterile crop that totally depends on the quality of corms (bulbs). Bigger the corm, more the flowers. However, we lack quality corms.”

Dr Aga opined that the lack of post-harvesting facilities had also taken a toll on saffron farming. He also blamed the WTO regime for the trend, as according to him, saffron from other places is being sold in the market at much cheaper rates after labelling it as Kashmiri saffron, which is considered the best in the world.

Dr Aga maintained, “The area under saffron cultivation has also declined from over 5,000 hectares to 3,750 hectares over the past few years,” adding, “A major part of land at Kashmir’s saffron belt, Pampore, has witnessed construction activities, which has led to shrinking in the area under saffron cultivation.”