PAMPORE : Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar today visited India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC) at Dussu Pampore and reviews its functioning.

During the visit, Advisor Bhatnagar inspected different sections of IIKSTC and was briefed about various facilities available there like preserving, grading, processing and marketing of saffron by the Administrator of the centre.

The Advisor also held a brief interaction with the officials of the centre and enquired from them about the current status of Saffron production here and the marketing linkages being provided by the centre for the progressive farmers of the region.

While interacting with the management of IIKSTC, Advisor Bhatnagar said that this centre has one of the advanced technologies for reviving of Saffron industry here and therefore due commitment should be shown for utilising the centre to its maximum possible extent. He also asked the management of centre to aware maximum saffron cultivators about the facilities of this centre so that they can take benefits of this centre and get best price for their produce.

Later, Advisor Bhatnagar also visited several Saffron areas of Pampore and took onspot review of flower picking operations going on in the saffron fields.

During the visit, the Advisor interacted with several progressive Saffron cultivators as well as representatives of Saffron growers and listened to their issues and grievances related to Saffron industry.

While interacting with them, Advisor Bhatnagar maintained that the present LG’s Administration is committed to development of Saffron industry here and recently with the efforts of Administration, Kashmiri Saffron has been granted GI tag which will increase its value and significance in global market. He further added that the IIKSTC established by the agriculture department will provide saffron growers best facilities for their pre and post harvest besides provide them marketing linkages of their produce and asked them to take due benefits of it.

The Advisor also assured the growers that all of their genuine issues and demands will be redressed on priority.