In news– Recently, North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) under Saffron Bowl project has identified a few locations in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya for saffron cultivation.
Key updates-
- In Arunachal Pradesh, there is a good growth of organic saffron with flowers.
- In Meghalaya, sample plantations were grown at Cherrapunji, Mawsmai and Lalingtop sites.
- The total cost of the whole project is Rs. 17.68 lakhs for Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
- Out of which, a tentative amount of Rs.6.00 lakhs has been earmarked for Barapani (Meghalaya) site.
About Saffron(Kesar)-
- Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the “saffron crocus”.
- The scientific name of wild saffron is Crocus cartwrightianus.
- The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food.
- It has long been the world’s costliest spice by weight.
- Its production has long been restricted to a limited geographical area in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
- It is believed that saffron cultivation was introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around the 1st Century BCE.
- Pampore region, in India, commonly known as Saffron bowl of Kashmir, is the main contributor to saffron production, followed by Budgam, Srinagar, and Kishtiwar districts.
- It has traditionally been associated with the famous Kashmiri cuisine and has medicinal values.
- Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmir is one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems (GIAHS) recognised sites in India.
- It grows well at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and needs a photoperiod (sunlight) of 12 hours.
- It thrives best in calcareous (soil that has calcium carbonate in abundance), humus-rich and well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 8.
- It needs an explicit climatological summer and winter with temperatures ranging from no more than 35 or 40 degree Celsius in summer to about –15 or –20 degree Celsius in winter.
- It also requires adequate rainfall that is 1000-1500 mm per annum.
- Iran is the world’s leading producer of saffron, followed by Spain and India.
North East Center For Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR)-
- It is an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India supported a pilot project to explore the feasibility of growing saffron in North East region of India, with the same quality and higher quantity.
- Its headquarters are in Shillong, Meghalaya.
- It works towards the social and economic development of the Northeastern region by harnessing and leveraging frontier technologies available through the central scientific departments and institutions.
Source: PIB
