Indian government to establish development agency in Kashmir to boost saffron exports
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and is in great demand in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for its culinary and medicinal usesIndia’s Ministry of Commerce has approved the formation of the Saffron Production & Export Development Agency (SPEDA) to help boost development and promotion of saffron from India. Currently, saffron is counted among other spices in India and falls under the purview of the Spices Board of India. The move to set up an exclusive agency for saffron is expected to address numerous challenges that saffron farmers and exporters face in the valley, which is the main producing region of saffron in India. “The project will benefit all saffron farmers of J&K by assuring higher production and realisation for the unique product of Kashmir,” said the Ministry of Commerce. SPEDA will be headquartered at Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and will be set up by the Spices Board in consultation with the Government of J&K as expeditiously as possible, said a statement by the Ministry. Like other export development bodies in India, SPEDA will aid in the production of quality saffron in J&K by providing training to farmers, promoting research and enhancing processing. It will also be responsible for quality control, export promotion, and better returns for farmers.
Source - Ministry of Commerce, IndiaEarlier, the government had launched a Saffron Park at Pampore (J&K) for processing packaging, value-addition and e-auction of saffron. The government is also planning to develop and promote Brand Kashmir for saffron to prevent adulteration in the international markets. The economy of J&K is heavily dependent on horticulture, but saffron acreage and exports have fluctuated in recent years mainly due to drop in productivity, plant diseases, poor processing and adulteration. According to the Agriculture Ministry, saffron cultivation in Kashmir has declined from around 5,707 hectares in 1996 to around 3,875 hectares in 2010-11, and production has declined from around 17,862 kg in 1996 to around 9,571 kg. India usually exports almost 50% of the total saffron production. Spices Board, which recently won the Niryat Bandhu Award among Export Promotion Councils, has helped in the robust growth of the exports of spices from India, which have grown by a compound annual average growth rate of 21% in value and 12% in volume during the last five years.
This article was published on December 29, 2014.
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