Lok Sabha Question No. 2008 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: National Saffron Mission
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Hasnain Masoodi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2008

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  MARCH, 2020

## NATIONAL SAFFRON MISSION

2008.  SHRI  HASNAIN  MASOODI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of National Saffron Mission functioning in Jammu and Kashmir;
- (b) the status of Saffron Park, Pampore established under the Mission;
- (c) the steps taken by the Ministry to address the grievances of saffron growers regarding non-functioning of borewells and sprinkle irrigation system under the Mission;
- (d) whether the Ministry has referred the complaints regarding large scale corruption in the Rs. 450 crore Mission for proper investigation, to the Central Bureau of Investigation;
- (e) the steps taken by the Ministry to stop illegal import of saffron into India;
- (f) whether the Ministry has undertaken any study on the role of beekeeping in increasing saffron production; and
- (g) the  present  status  of  Saffron  Production  and  Export  Development  Agency  (SPEDA) established for saffron growers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): National Mission on Saffron was launched during 2010-11 with an outlay of Rs. 400.11 crore  with  Government  of  India  (GoI)  share  of  Rs.  315.99  crore.  The  approved  period  of National Saffron Mission was up to 2013-14.  It was further extended from 2014-15 to 2017-18.

Since the Mission was not completed during the extended period, it was decided to take up the residual activities under regular Annual Action Plan (AAP) of      J&K under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).  During 2019-20, an amount of Rs. 80.30 crore (GoI  Share)  has  been  allocated  under  the  regular  AAP  of      J&K    under  MIDH  for  various activities of Saffron Mission out of which an amount of Rs. 60.00 crore have been released so far.

Till now, an amount of Rs. 266.10 crore has been released to the Government of J&K for various activities of Saffron Mission since its launch.

- (b): The National Horticulture Board (NHB) was assigned the task of helping UT of J&K to establish the Saffron Park at Pampore. NHB has got the Civil and Electrification work completed through CPWD and installation of plant and machinery has also been completed.
- (c): No such grievances have been received by this Ministry. Government of J&K has also reported that there has been no grievance from the farmers regarding non- functioning of borewells which are fully functional.
- (d): No  such  complaints  have  been  reported  by  the  Government  of  J&K  to  this  Ministry. However,  Government of J&K affirms that some anonymous complaints lodged regarding large scale corruption in Mission has been a handy work of some unscrupulous elements viz. Land Mafia,  Unregistered  Saffron  Traders  etc.  who  intend  to  demonize  the  initiative  taken  by  the Government of India for the economic revival of Saffron in J&K and the sincere work put in by the stake holders of the  National Mission on Saffron.
- (e): As  reported  by  Government  of  J  &  K,  timely  intervention  and  a  robust  policy  driven legislation  Saffron  Act  of  2007  and  Saffron  Rules  of  2018  have  been  enforced  to  check  the menace  of  adulteration  in  Kashmir  Saffron.  This  Ministry  has  not  received  any  complaint regarding illegal import of saffron into India.
- (f): No such study has been undertaken by the Ministry.
- (g): Government  of  India  has  established  Saffron  Production  and  Export  Development Agency  (SPEDA) at  Srinagar,  J&K  for  the  development,  marketing,  quality  improvement  and export promotion of saffron in the country. Under SPEDA, a full-fledged Mini Saffron Processing unit  with  Driers  was  given  to  the  progressive  Saffron  Growers  Society  in  2017  which  is  still functioning.

During 2019-20, production of 26.22 MTs of Saffron has been reported from an area of 2462 ha.

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