Assembly witnesses heated debate over saffron farming in Chenab valley

Jammu, Mar 7: In Chenab Valley’s Kishtwar district, large tracts of saffron farmland have been rejuvenated under the National Saffron Mission.

Responding to a query from Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, Minister for Agriculture Javed Ahmad Rana on Friday informed the House that 50 hectares of saffron land had been revitalized in the region.

He further said that 5,465 cultivators received financial assistance for saffron corms, with a total subsidy of Rs 252.86 lakh. The minister also revealed that 100 beneficiaries were granted subsidies for vermicompost units, amounting to Rs 30 lakh, while 48 farmers received a 50% subsidy for procuring tillers and weeders. Additionally, 250 farmers underwent training through Farmer Training Camps under the Saffron Mission. “Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been established and are actively engaged in saffron processing, packaging, and marketing through various e-marketing platforms and buyer-seller meets,” the minister said.

In response, the LoP pointed out that a saffron park, approved in 2017, faced delays due to land acquisition issues, preventing the construction of essential infrastructure and the procurement of necessary tools for farmers. He demanded that the saffron park be set up in Kuchal village instead of Berwar and sought a definitive timeline for its establishment. As the minister attempted to respond, a heated exchange broke out in the Assembly.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Meharaj Malik accused the BJP legislator of failing to push for the saffron park over the past decade. “The government is promoting lavender cultivation to divert attention from saffron,” Malik alleged. The LoP, in turn, accused the Speaker of allowing unnecessary interruptions, asserting that the matter needed serious discussion. Defending his stance, Malik argued that, as a native of Chenab Valley, he had every right to intervene in the debate. The exchange escalated into a verbal clash between BJP legislators and Malik, prompting the Speaker to intervene and move on to the next agenda item.