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Saffron farmers in distress

Kashmir Times. Dated: 11/16/2017 11:11:26 PM

Efforts to conduct research and increase production of this costliest spice has been bogged down by lack of foresight and proper perspective

The saffron farmers of Kashmir appear to be in severe distress like farmers of other traditional crops in the country as the crop failure is staring them due to various reasons. On the face of it, the saffron fields at this time of the year would present a colourful look as farmers prepare for harvest by picking up the full bloom flowers. But the barren look in the fields where few odd flowers are blooming, the farmers are a sad lot as the production is likely to be lowest in many years. The funding of a massive project involving about Rs 400 crore mission to improve saffron production in the state also does not appear to be of any help to the farmers since its inception almost ten years back. In fact, successive governments at the centre and J&K appear to be deeply involved in politics over development and research on saffron production in some areas of the state instead of enhancing the produce. On a previous occasion more than 18 years back, similar initiative was launched by the state government and nothing was heard about the outcome of the scheme which continued to do some sort of research for about five years. The saffron trade running into tens of crores has witnessed decline due to decrease in production of saffron crop during the past two decades and nothing worthwhile appears to have been done as the crop production has remained static. Despite the fact that the crop production has been on the increase in some areas of Europe and Iran, no head way appears to have been made in the case of J&K. Apart from its use as a spice, saffron is also used in making eatable colour dyes and in medicines as a raw material. Unfortunately, the non-existent Saffron Development Board has not been able to meet its commitment of supplies to the consumers around the world well in time because of decreased production over the past two decades. Though this is cash rich crop, the state government has been paying only lip-service to this sector and ignoring it to the hilt till the farmers raised the hue and cry.
Despite being an important agriculture produce which fetches good money for the state, the powers that be at the centre and J&K have made no serious effort to help in increasing its production. The chosen and favourite officers connected with this sector were allowed luxurious tours abroad for studying the production patterns and technological developments in this field at the cost of scarce resources of the state exchequer. The visitors to foreign countries came back without being any wiser about this sector. These persons also unfortunately belonged to a category of officers, who have been recruited in the government departments for enjoying the luxuries of life at the expense of the state government without making any productive contribution in the field of their service. Moreover, it is not the case with this sector only, wherein officers and technical persons go on foreign jaunts just to enjoy themselves and not to work for the respective departments. It is also sad state of affairs that majority of the development organization working in agriculture have miserable failed in coming to the aid of the farmers through their hard work and research programmes. Two agriculture universities working in both the regions of the state have also utterly failed in coming up with research projects in concerned fields for helping the farming community and increasing the production of various crops. In the absence of any accountability, the working of the government departments has been leading to inordinate delay in completion of research projects and cost over-runs without any tangible results. The research projects have also been bogged down by the petty politicking in the universities, which have become breeding grounds for corrupt practices. The state government has also been indulging in corrupt practices so far as the management of these universities is concerned because persons with political connections and known for their corrupt background are chosen to head these institutions. There are fears that this new project for development of saffron crop for enhanced production has also not borne any fruit like other projects, which were forgotten after the time lapses and money is spent without any productive outcome.