Director AP&FWD holds joint meeting with officers, Saffron growers at IIKSTC

Pulwama: In view of the upcoming saffron season and to provide quality facilities to the saffron growers, the Director, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department (AP&FWD), Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal Saturday held a joint meeting of officers of the department, Saffron Growers and representatives of Saffron Growers Association at India International Kashmir Saffron Trade Centre (IIKSTC) at Dussu Pampore.
The Director on the occasion said that the saffron growers will be provided requisite facilities including hi-tech stigma separation, grading, quality analysis, packing, e-auction marketing and above all G.I. authenticity from IIKSTC.
During the meeting, the Director stressed upon the Chief Agriculture Officers to educate the saffron growers regarding latest marketing trends and other scientific innovations regarding saffron harvesting and post harvest technology.
On the occasion, Iqbal said that IIKSTC is one of the best in Asian subcontinent and that it is all set to provide Cutting-edge technology to revive the Saffron industry.
During the interaction with the representatives of Saffron growers, the Director assured them that their genuine issues will be addressed.
He said the IIKSTC establishment will boost the economy of this area as their saffron will be sold, graded and imported to various countries from this platform. It will be sealed and certified here, which will be a trademark for Kashmiri saffron, he added.
Earlier, Deputy Managing Director NHB who is also Consultant Ministry of Agriculture GoI, Bijendra Singh, Joint Director NHB CP Gandhi, along with Director Agriculture Kashmir inspected different sections of IIKSTC and took stock of its working.
The meeting was attended by Joint Director Agriculture Inputs, Joint Director Agriculture Extension, Joint Director Agriculture Farms, Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar, Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Chief Agriculture Officer Budgam, officials of IIKSTC and Saffron Growers.