Transforming Northeast India into a Saffron Hub

Transforming Northeast India into a Saffron Hub

India has recognized Northeast India as the next potential saffron cultivation hub, following Jammu & Kashmir’s Pampore region. This initiative, part of the Mission Saffron project, was announced during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) permanent campus in Shillong.

Mission Saffron:

Launched in 2010-11, Mission Saffron is a centrally-funded initiative to promote saffron cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir. Since 2021, the project has been extended to Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya under the "Saffron Bowl Project" by NECTAR.

Saffron:

Saffron is a highly valuable spice derived from the stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, also known as the saffron crocus. It thrives at altitudes of around 2000m, in loamy, sandy, or calcareous soils with a pH level ranging from 6 to 8. It requires a dry to moderate climate, with summer temperatures not exceeding 40°C and winter temperatures as low as -20°C. The saffron from Kashmir has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

NECTAR:

NECTAR is an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), established in 2014. It focuses on technology-driven solutions to enhance agriculture, infrastructure, and economic development in the Northeast region.

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