Jammu, Feb 2: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir said that the government has taken various measures to improve the cultivation of saffron in the State.
 He said saffron cultivation area of the State has been brought under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, under which, besides providing necessary know-how, the quality seeds are being provided to farmers.
 Replying to a question by Syed Asgar Ali today in the Legislative Council, the Minister said that the Department of Agriculture and SKUAST, Jammu have organized various awareness camps in Kishtwar district to educate the farmers about the latest farming practices of the saffron crop and to manage and control the Corm Rot Disease (CRD) of the crop. He said demonstration plots have been also laid in village Poochal, Bera Bhatta and Hidyal.
 He said 31.28 quintals of saffron seed was distributed among farmers on 60% subsidy. Besides these 250 quintals of the seed was also treated to check the CRD, the Minister added. 
 Replying to supplementaries of   M. Y. Taing and   Murtaza Ahmad Khan, the Minister said that the Government is seriously considering to promote saffron crop in the State. Adding that awareness camps are being held at different places to educate the farmers about the latest techniques used for the cultivation of the crop, he said that the Government has constituted a high level committee to ensure that no land is used for construction purposes.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST