About National Saffron Mission

Status Note on Development of Saffron in UT of J&K.

National Mission on Saffron

Recent history has shown a decline in the area under cultivation of saffron in Kashmir. The area under Saffron cultivation declined from 5707 hectares in 1996-97 to 3785 hectares in 2010-11. The decline in area was mainly attributed to low benefit cost ratio due to intensive and expensive cost of cultivation, low productivity (1.88 Kg/ ha), Orthodox cultivations methods coupled with various biotic and abiotic stresses, poor plant stand, change in weather pattern resulted in moisture stress at the terminal growth stages were the main factors responsible for decline in crop yields which evaded interests of farming community to pursue saffron cultivation.
To give a boost to the saffron production and to mitigate the sufferings of the saffron growers, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India, during the year 2010-11 introduced a scheme “National Mission on Saffron”.

The details of project are as under:
Total Project cost: 400.11 Crore
Sanctioned Project Cost: 400.11 Crore
Govt. of India Share: 315.99 Crore
Farmers Share: 84.12 Crore
Period: 9 years (2010-2020)
Funds released as on date 266.1023 Crore
Expenditure as on date: 256.3535 Crore

Project Partners for implementation for National mission on Saffron:

Directorate of Agriculture, Kashmir
Directorate of Agriculture, Jammu
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology – Kashmir
Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture Srinagar-(CITH)
National Horticulture Board- NHB

Objectives of the Mission are as under:

To make vertical and horizontal improvement in the overall productivity of Saffron.
To enhance the quality of Saffron
To enhance research and extension capabilities
To develop appropriate systems for organized marketing, quality based pricing of Saffron and for formulating direct transactions between growers, traders, exporters and industrial agencies.

Major Components under National Mission on Saffron:

Rejuvenation/Replanting of Existing Saffron Areas for improving Productivity
Improving Soil Health by INM, IPM and IDM practices.
Production of Planting Material in Public Nurseries
Strengthening the Irrigation System
Enhancing the Product Quality through improved post harvest handling
Mechanization
Weather station Development
Infrastructure development
Transfer of Technology
Quality testing and Marketing
Enhancement of research and Extension Capabilities.

An area of 3715 hectares of Saffron is proposed to be rejuvenated under the mission in phased manner out of which 2578.75 hectares stands rejuvenated as on date, the details are as under.

S. No	District	Target (Ha)	Achievement as on date
01	Pulwama	3200.00	2035.75
02	Budgam	300.00	328.000
03	Srinagar	165.00	165
04	Kishtawar	50.00	50.000
Total		3715.00	2578.75

The production of saffron is an outcome of biological activity which is highly sensitive to changes in weather. The important weather vagaries such as excessive rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind etc. influence the biological process directly or indirectly. For Instance, low soil moisture due to poor precipitation adversely affects corm multiplication resulting in reduced plant density and poor precipitation during growth period results in stunted plant growth which ultimately affects the crop yield/productivity.

Excessive rainfall during early growth cycle period damages corms. Fluctuation in temperature during the crop cycle causes outbreak of pests and diseases. All these abnormal factors results either in partial loss of yield or in complete crop failure which reduces income of farmers. The deviations of weather variables from the normal adversely affected the crop yields and the income, therefore the Department is vigorously motivating the farmers to adopt scientific methods of Saffron Cultivation for higher biological yields i.e. 7.5 Kg/ha which will result in the socio-economic up-liftment of Saffron growers, excess revenue generation, and importantly the State of J&K will maintain the legacy of producing world’s best saffron which is being pursued by way of implementing approved components under Saffron Mission.

Over the years, there has been substantial increase in the crop yields recorded for the areas rejuvenated under National Mission on Saffron from 1.88 kg/ha to 4-5 kg/ha.

Past trend in area, production and productivity of saffron

Year	Area(In Ha)	Production(In M. Ts)	Yield (Kg/ha)
1996-97	5707	15.95	2.80
1997-98	4618	13.39	2.90
1998-99	4116	12.88	3.13
1999-2000	3997	7.65	1.89
2000-2001	2831	3.59	1.27
2001-2002	2713	0.30	0.095
2002-03	2825	6.50	2.28
2003-04	2742	5.15	1.88
2004-05	3143	6.86	2.23
2005-06	3010	6.50	2.15
2006-07	3280	8.20	2.50
2007-08	3280	7.70	2.34
2008-09	3715	9.462	2.50
2009-2010	3715	10.40	2.75

Comparative trends in area, production and productivity of saffron

Year	Rejuvenated under NSM (ha)	Rejuvenated Cumulative Total (area in ha)	Average yield of rejuvenated area (Kg/ha)	Area sown by the Growers under traditional method (in ha)	Average yield under traditional method (Kgs/ha)
2010-11	-	-	-	3715	2.70
2011-12	331	331	4.5	3384	2.75
2012-13	943	1274	4.5	2441	2.75
2013-14	528	1802	4.8	1913	2.80
2014-15	157	1959	1.5 (Floods)	1756	1.5 (Floods)
2015-16	176	2135	5.50	1580	2.80
2016-17	79.81	2214.81	5.49	1497	2.85
2017-18	172.90	2387.71	1.64	1323.75	0.0973
2018-19	74.29	2462	1.75	1253	1.08
2019-20	116.75 (Liability of previous years)	2578.75	4.7	1136.25	2.54

Production/Productivity of Saffron under National Mission on Saffron

Year	Total Area	Rejuvenated Cumulative Total (area in ha)	Total area under traditional method	Total Production Rejuvenated area (MTs)	Total production inclusive from non-traditional areas (MTs)	Total Productivity (Kgs/ha)
2010-11	3715	-	3715	-	10.03	2.69
2011-12	3715	331	3384	1.489	10.79	2.90
2012-13	3715	1274	2441	5.733	12.445	3.34
2013-14	3715	1802	1913	8.649	14.005	3.77
2014-15	3715	1959	1756	2.938	5.572	1.5 (Floods)
2015-16	3715	2135	1580	11.742	16.166	4.35
2016-17	3715	2218	1497	12.19	16.45	4.42
2017-18	3715	2387.81	1323.75	3.92	5.2	1.4
2018-19	3715	2462	1253	4.30	5.653	1.52
2019-20	3715	2578.75	1136.25	12.495	15.12	4.07

Orthodox mindset of farmers have been swayed successfully and the farmers resorted to adopt scientific methodology for promoting saffron cultivation as bold initiatives like prophylactic measures and soil health reclamation measure are being taken which is a game changer in Saffron cultivation with the application of 10.88 T/ha organic manure to the soil for promoting saffron crop production program.

Furthermore, mechanization of Saffron fields has brought down labour cost as the department has distributed Weeders to the Saffron Growers who are shifting towards Scientific methods of Saffron cultivation.

Installation of Sprinkler System

Saffron crop requires irrigation at critical stages of crop growth therefore, National Saffron Mission provides a lasting solution for overcoming the water deficit by exploring 128 number of deep production wells which shall be connected with sprinkler system and each sprinkler system does have command of 26-30 ha which will augment the water supply for the saffron crop at its critical stages and will revolutionize the Saffron production/ productivity in Jammu and Kashmir State. The Physical progress under irrigation component is as under:

S. No	Particulars	Total target	Total achievements
01	Production Wells	126	120, 04 under progress
02	Production wells in private sector	02	02
Total		128	122, 04 under progress
03	Providing of Sprinkler system	128	22 completed, 106 Handover/Takeover process under progress

Outcomes from various components of National Mission on Saffron vis-à-vis Irrigation:

Saffron crop requires irrigation at critical stages of crop growth, therefore, National Saffron Mission provides a lasting solution for overcoming the water deficit requirement be exploring 128 number of Deep Production wells which shall be connected with sprinkler system and each sprinkler system does have command of 26-30 ha which will augment the water requirement of the saffron crop at its critical stages and will revolutionize the saffron production/productivity in Jammu and Kashmir State and production will get increased and will get registered 8.5 Kg/ha. The Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) as of now has completed only 05 Sprinkler system as on date and the work on rest of the bore-wells shall be connected with the Sprinkler System in Mission Mode so that the same is completed at an earliest.

India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Center (IIKSTC) at Dussu, Pampore
Government of India, Geographical Indication Registry under Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 has been pleased to accord Certificate of Registration of Geographical Indication for Saffron produced in J&K.
Saffron produced at farmer fields in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is of best quality which proffers strong flavour, aroma and colour-effect in comparison to Saffron produced across the world and it reaches the market through network of intermediaries who frequently exploit the growers, therefore, a need was felt to maintain the identity of Kashmir Saffron and to eliminate the role of intermediaries from the marketing channel for better pricing for growers in the domestic and international market which will eventually help growers in realize maximum prices which otherwise as on date is a under-priced commodity in the national and international market.
In this endeavor to increase the demand of saffron grown in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, there was a need for evolving a brand for Kashmir Saffron and in this regard Government of India extended a helping hand so that all marketing solutions would be provided to the farmer under one roof and branding of Kashmiri Saffron would be a step towards quality assurance.

The Spice Park/IIKSTC has been constructed under National Saffron Mission at Dussu Pampore. IIKSTC has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 37.81 Crore by National Horticulture Board, GoI and is currently being run by the Department of agriculture,Kashmir.
Further, the e-marketing centre is functional.

The idea to establish the State of Art facility at IIKSTC has been conceived in order to put in place:
Scientific post-harvest handling practices like Stamen Separation, Drying and Grading etc.
To enforce adoption of quality standards and fix the price based on Quality grades at farm gate level.
To end the menace of spurious saffron and adulteration
To carry out regular evaluation and certification of saffron
To provide a common facilitation center for E- trading of Kashmir saffron on PAN INDIA Mode.
Branding of Kashmir Saffron
An overview of IIKSTC:
Collection center
Cold storage unit
Stigma separation unit
Quality Evaluation Lab.
Drying Unit
Processing Block
Packaging Unit