Afghan delegation on Kashmir visit

##ad_1##By Bashir Assad

SRINAGAR: An Afghanistan delegation doing research on Saffron cultivation is currently on Kashmir visit under an agreement between the Union Agriculture Ministry and Government of Afghanistan.The delegation comprising of 22 members undergoing saffron cultivation training program at SK University of Agricultural Science and Technology (SKUAST) Friday visited the Saffron town of Pampore in South Kashmir.

The team comprising students from Kabul University visited the Saffron Research Station,Pampore, processing units and National Mission on Saffron Fields.Later, they interacted with the local Saffron growers to get acquainted with the latest

technology on Saffron cultivation, better productivity and marketing facilities. The local growers offered the Afghan delegation a Saffron Kehwa with traditional Kashmiri bread.The delegation which arrived here earlier this week is on a six day visit during which they would be imparted training at the SKUAST about the cultivation of Saffron.

The training has been arranged as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Afghanistan.Naseem Atai who is leading the delegation said, “Due to the turmoil in Afghanistan like other sectors agriculture too has suffered a lot. People in our country have been cultivating saffron since 2000 on the Afghan-Iran border but the production has not been good since the farmers there are ignorant about the latest scientific techniques.”

##ad_2##He added: The government of India and state government have come forward to help us in our endeavour to make Saffron a cash crop.” Atai said that cultivation of precious spice was also aimed at discouraging people from taking over the cultivation of narcotic crops.The delegation had all praise for the hospitality shown by the locals.“The love and hospitality we received here is great. There is plenty of commonalties in the culture of Afghanistan and Kashmir and we are certainly feeling at home here,” said one of the delegates, Asadullah.

The team also includes three women delegates. Professor S A Nehvi, Head of the Saffron Research Station, Pampore said: “The SKUAST had received a proposal saying that Afghanistan wanted to introduce the Saffron crop. A draft was framed and it was decided that a training program that would focus on adopting latest techniques in order to increase the production of

the crop will be given to the researchers and farmers from that country”