Srinagar, July 26: In a function at SKUAST-K campus, Benihama Ganderbal, Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha released seven university publications including “Saffron Diversification in Non-Traditional Areas: Problems & Prospects” in presence of Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, AND SKUAST-J Prof. J P Sharma as well as Chief Secretary J&K Arun Kumar Mehta (IAS).
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Sh. S P K Pole (IAS), IGP Kashmir Sh. Vijay Kumar (IPS), Director General Horticulture Kashmir, Ajaz A. Bhat, Vice Chancellor Cluster University Srinagar Prof. Qayyum Hussain, Vice Chancellor BGSBU Prof. Akbar Masood, Dean Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K Prof T H Masoodi were also present on the occasion along with other dignitaries and farmers.
The publication is authored by Dr. Amjad M. Husaini, Principal Investigator of the NMHS Funded project “A value chain of saffron in new areas of NW Himalayas by engaging youth and women for strengthening a bio-based green economy”, a statement issued by the Department said.
It focuses mainly on the prospects and problems of introducing saffron in non-traditional areas with the aim of increasing farmers’ income through diversification by a highly valued cash crop like saffron. The book endeavors to showcase the work done under the NMHS funded project in remote areas of J&K where farmers are generally poor and have limited resources. The publication is an effort to cater needs of the resource-poor and tribal farming community by providing useful information about saffron cultivation in a well-illustrated manner, the statement issued by the Department said.
