SAFFRON PRODUCTION DWINDLING IN KASHMIR VALLEY ...

  
Pampore kashmir  November 2011
Photo by  by Autar Mota 


SAFFRON  or KONG ( Kashmiri )  , the most expensive crop, comes  mostly  from Pampore Uplands ( Wudar ) in kashmir valley  .In fact ninety percent saffron grown in the Kashmir comes from this area. But than with traditional   farming methods  , poor irrigation facilities and lack of post harvest management  , the yield per Hectare has come down from  3.13 Kgs to 2.50 Kgs. The area under cultivation has also shrunk from 5700 Hectares to 3800 Hectares  . Is the centuries old Kashmir Saffron under threat ?
 Not so at the moment but surely if we do not read the writing on the wall the area under cultivation and production per hectare may further dwindle . We should  strive  for creation of Irrigation facilities through tube wells and sprinklers which would  ultimately increase the production. Immediate restriction needs   to be put on construction activities in and around cultivable area also .                                                                       




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