The National Horticulture Board will dedicate its first Saffron Park at Pampore in Jammu & Kashmir to its farmers by early 2016 which will produce the saffron of the finest quality to cater to its domestic and even export requirements.
At the inaugural session of National Conference on Cold Chain Infrastructure in India under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Managing Director of the project Dr AK Singh revealed that his department has come out with subsidies schemes ranging from 35 per cent to 50 per cent to build multi commodities pack houses with special provisioning to store perishables such as onion and tomato to restrict occasional and unseasonal spike in their prices and wastage.
He further added, “India’s first saffron park at Pampore will become operational in next few months as the physical infrastructure for this park has almost been completed with an investment of Rs 24 crores as this park has been created at high density saffron grown areas off 35 to 40 km of Srinagar and will be dedicated to its farmers by early 2016.”
Special provisions have been made to rope in promoters for pack houses for storing onions and tomatoes and other such perishables with a subsidy element of 35 per cent in North Eastern areas to cater to needs of far off and remote places and to an extent of 50 per cent for Himalayan regions as it would make for sound supply chain system to serve the requirements of the plains.
Director, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare, Pankaj Kumar in his observations announced that highly attractive and incentive schemes are forthcoming to enable the country equip with sound cold storage system to restrict to the minimum agriculture produce of the country.