Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Oct 25: A progressive farmer from south Kashmir’s Shopian district has become an example for others as he has been successfully growing both indoor and outdoor saffron.
Haroon Rashid (55), a resident of Vehil village of Shopian has been growing saffron in a big hall of his house as well on the slab of his house with positive results.
Haroon said that he has been growing different kinds of vegetables, fruits and even some medicinal plants on the slab of his two-storey house for the last seven years now.
He said that while growing different kinds of vegetables and fruits, he has always sought attention and guidance from concerned officials of Horticulture and Agriculture departments, who have always supported him.
Haroon said that last year while meeting officials, he came to know about indoor saffron and with the help of KVK Balpora Shopian and India International Kashmir Saffron Trade Centre (IIKSTC) Dusoo Pampore, he gave try to indoor saffron and that showed very positively results.
He said that on his own with guidance of some officials, he also started growing outdoor saffron using hydroponic technique and that too has shown very positive results.
This year, both indoor and outdoor saffron has been grown again and the results are much better, he said.
“Outdoor saffron, though on a minor scale has shown good results as flowers are being plucked while indoor saffron is currently in bloom and are expecting more yield as compared to last year,” he added.
He said that with indoor saffron a reality now, the demand can be easily met and even people who don’t have land can grow saffron in their homes.
Haroon said where there is a will, there is a way and farmers need to work hard and take benefits of different government schemes besides guidance from scientists and other officials and by doing so, they can do wonders and won’t be dependent on others.
He added that indoor saffron cultivation is a reality and it has been showing very positive results as of now and there remains zero impact of climate change, extensive rain or heat on indoor saffron.
Officials said that as climate change has been affecting every crop and like that it has started to put its impact on outdoor saffron and now “we need irrigation for saffron that wasn’t required earlier and indoor saffron under these circumstances can play vital role in meeting demand and supply.”
