SRINAGAR: Environmental lawyer and convenor Civil Society Pampore Advocate Nadeem Qadri has raised serious concerns over the massive decline in saffron production under the National Saffron Mission (NSM).
Expressing the disappointment and worries of saffron growers, Qadri in a statement issued here highlighted that the expenses incurred in preparing saffron fields far exceed the returns from the crop, leaving growers in a dire state.
Qadri pointed out glaring discrepancies between the production figures provided by the concerned department and the ground reality. He further criticized SKUAST-K for failing to play a proactive and vibrant role in addressing the challenges faced by the saffron industry, labeling their ambiguous stance as a significant setback for the mission.
Advocate Qadri has raised serious questions about the accountability, integrity, and transparency of the Department of Agriculture, which, according to him, is the primary department and the prime accused in the failure of the National Saffron Mission. He stressed that the Department must be held responsible for its role in the mismanagement of funds and resources allocated to the mission.
Qadri has also called for a thorough investigation by the CBI into several aspects of the National Saffron Mission, including; the alleged illegal export of saffron corms, a GI-recognized and protected crop, in violation of government policies and circular, and mismanagement and improper utilization of funds under the mission.
Additionally, Qadri raised concerns about the silence of concerned departments allowing unchecked conversion of notified saffron land into orchards and other crops viz Kaala Zeera intervention eyewash just to divert the attention of the society and the government, as well as unauthorized constructions within the saffron belt. He called for immediate intervention by the government to prevent further conversions of saffron land and a blanket ban on any kind of construction activity within the notified saffron belt to protect this heritage crop and its ecosystem.
Qadri, raised concerns about the non-functional status of borewells installed by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Horticulture under the mission, to irrigate saffron fields, despite significant funds being allocated for the purpose. Since the mission’s inception, these borewells have remained largely defunct, even not a single borewell out of the total is functional adding to the woes of saffron growers.
In light of the failures of the first phase of the National Saffron Mission, Qadri has urged the government to re-strategize and carefully plan the upcoming phase to ensure it does not replicate the shortcomings of its predecessor. He emphasized the need for the second phase to be initiated with utmost accountability and without ambiguities to genuinely benefit saffron growers and boost the economy. He reiterated that saffron, being the costliest spice in the world, requires a robust strategy to sustain and enhance its production.
