Sprinkle irrigation in saffron fields to begin this season: MED assures Agri Dept

ZT News Network

Srinagar: Mechanical Irrigation Department (MED) has given an “assurance” that the first cycle of irrigation to the saffron growers will be provided before saffron flowering and Sprinkler Irrigation System will be made operational this season in saffron growing areas.

This was stated during a joint meeting of Agriculture Officers and the Engineers of Mechanical Engineering Department (M.E.D) chaired by Director Agriculture Kashmir Altaf Aijaz Andrabi, who is also Mission Director, National Mission on Saffron (NMS), to review the progress on establishment of Sprinkle Irrigation Systems under National Mission on Saffron (NMS).

During the meeting, Director Agriculture Kashmir stressed upon the engineers of M.E.D to ensure that all the 119 Borewells are made functional during the current season in order to ensure timely irrigation supply to the saffron crop as the department cannot afford to delay the establishment of Sprinkle Irrigation System as the project is in partnership with farmers to whom the department is committed to provide irrigation during the current crop cycle.

Andrabi directed that first cycle of irrigation shall be completed in 15 days starting 3 rd week of August for providing irrigating of 140m 3 per hectare by pressing into service the already completed Bore wells.

Most farmers in Pampore and Chrar-Sharief-Nagam areas have often expressed their dismay with the manner the irrigation component of the Saffron Mission has been implemented. Even this year experts feel that even if the Mechanical Irrigation Department gets delayed by even a week in providing irrigation facilities, it would be a futile exercise.

“Saffron is a highly sensitive crop. It follows a strict production cycle. Depending on various climatic factors, if the crop would miss irrigation at the time it needs it or irrigation gets delayed even by one week, it would not serve the purpose at all”, says Ghulam Nabi, a saffron farmer from Ladhoo, Pampore.

Meanwhile, Director Agriculture impressed upon the Chief Agriculture Officers of the department to mobilize the field staff involved with the mission in order to create awareness about the importance of sprinkle irrigation system for increasing the production and productivity of saffron.

Er. Sanjay Sharma Superintending Engineer MED Kashmir, Ab Rashid Bhat Executive Engineer MED Srinagar, M. Qasim Gani Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Arvind Baru Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar, M. Shafi Chief Agriculture Officer Budgam and other concerned officers attended the meeting.