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- February 2022
Index
Toppers Talk
Art & Culture
Polity
- What is Lokpal and Lokayukta? Kerala’s proposal to limit Lokayukta’s powers
- Why Justice takes so Long In India ?
- Parliamentary Committee on Education calls for revamp of Education in India
- Lalu Prasad Yadav gets Five Year in jail in Fodder Scam Case, fined 60 Lakh
- Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launches Seed for DNTs? What is the status of DNTs?
- Why Media One channel was banned by the I&B ministry?
Indian Society
Governance & Social Justice
International Relations
Economy
- Is Cryptocurrency Legal in India? Union Budget 2022: India to Tax Crypto at 30%
- What is Cage Aquaculture? Know all about it- Factors, Advantages & Disadvantages
- Farmer Unions Threaten to Resume Agitation if Govt does not fulfil MSP commitments
- What is Barbell Strategy & Agile approach used by GoI as Economic Policy
- Why the Great Minds of India are leaving the country?
- India plans to produce 5 Million Tonnes of Green Hydrogen by 2030
- Government to Promote Drone use in Agriculture
- Is Bhutan the Happiest Country in the World GNH Philosophy
- Blue Economy, sixth dimension of India’s ‘Vision of New India’ by 2030
Defence & Security
Disaster Management
Science & Technology
- What is Quantum communication? ISRO conducts experiment to communicate securely
- Scientists set new record in creating energy from Nuclear Fusion – 11MW in 5 seconds
- SAMARTH National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Plant
- India takes on China, Vietnam in electronics manufacturing, Target $300 billion production
- What is mRNA Vaccine for HIV AIDS? Why is developing the HIV vaccine tough?
- What is the DLI scheme? Will it help in developing the semiconductor industry in India?
Environment

Relevance:
- GS 3 || Environment || Geography & Environment || Agriculture
Why in news?
Saffron Bowl Project in Arunachal Pradesh & Meghalaya
Present Context:
- Under the Saffron Bowl initiative, the North East Center for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) has identified a few areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya for saffron cultivation.
- For Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, the total cost of the project is Rs. 17.68 lakhs.
- NECTAR is an autonomous agency under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) that funded a pilot study to see if it was possible to cultivate saffron in the North East of India with the same quality and quantity as in the rest of the country.
Reason for Extending Saffron Cultivation to the North- East:
- Initially, saffron production was limited to a few, specific parts of Kashmir, and despite the National Saffron Mission’s efforts, the production area was still too small. Bore wells were in short supply in the saffron-growing regions.
- India produces roughly 6 to 7 tonnes of saffron each year, compared to a requirement of 100 tonnes.
- To fulfil rising saffron demand, the Ministry of Science and Technology, through the DST, is considering expanding cultivation to some Northeastern states (Sikkim now, and later to Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh).
- The climate and geographical conditions in Kashmir and a few Northeastern states are very similar, and organic saffron with blossoms is flourishing in Arunachal Pradesh. Sample plantations were grown in Meghalaya at the Cherrapunji, Mawsmai, and Lalingtop sites.
- It will also diversify agriculture in the North-East and give new options for farmers.
- The saffron bowl, which was previously limited to Kashmir, is now being expanded to the Northeast, according to the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), which has initiated the Saffron Bowl Project to investigate the viability of growing high-quality saffron in the region.
Kashmir saffron: The saffron Bowl
- Saffron Bowl: Saffron production in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir has long been constrained to a small geographical area. Pampore, also known as the Saffron Bowl of Kashmir, is the leading producer of saffron, followed by Budgam, Srinagar, and Kishtiwar districts in India.
- Origin: Saffron cultivation is thought to have begun in Kashmir about the 1st century BCE, thanks to Central Asian immigrants. Saffron is known as ‘bahukam’ in ancient Sanskrit literature.
- Benefits: It is utilised in cosmetics and for therapeutic purposes, and it rejuvenates health.
- Characteristics: Longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, powerful aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, and large quantity of crocin (colouring strength), safranal (flavour), and picrocrocin are all distinguishing features of Kashmir saffron (bitterness). It is the world’s only saffron grown at an altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m AMSL (above mean sea level), further distinguishing it from other saffron kinds available around the world.
- Recognition: In 2020, the Geographical Indication (GI) badge was given to Kashmir saffron, which is grown and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir.
Initiatives to Promote Saffron Cultivation:
- The National Saffron Mission: It was established by the national government in 2010 to provide financial assistance for the construction of irrigation facilities such as tube wells and sprinkler systems that would aid in the development of better crops in the saffron industry.
- The Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) and the Government of Himachal Pradesh have agreed to enhance production of two spices, saffron and heeng, respectively (asafoetida).