WE THE PEOPLE
Kashmir’s valuable Sectors losing Shine, Saffron and Silk production mark sharp Decline
Hence People urge Govt., to infuse new Blood into affected Sectors to remove Regional disparity
By: Mirror News Service
Srinagar: Kashmir valley has been witnessing downturn since the eruption of turbulence in 1989. As a matter of fact, Kashmir Valley is also losing its traditional cash crops and industries while Jammu region is prospering.
As it is known that the Sericulture Sector has been the backbone of the State’s economy and in this traditional field, the Kashmir Valley currently is losing much as compared to Jammu. The important facet of the steady decline of silk industry has been that Kashmir Valley has faced the major brunt of the overall downturn witnessed by this industry.
According to the recent official data available, on an average Jammu region currently produces impressive 6 lakh kgs of cocoons per year while as production in Kashmir has plummeted to about 2.5 lakh kilograms. Till late eighties Kashmir dominated all the administrative divisions of the State not only in seed, mulberry and cocoon production but refined silk as well.
According to figures available, Kashmir was the main supplier to the State’s silk industry generating nearly two third of the total production; however the political instability accentuated by militancy upturned the trend. Out of a total cocoon production of 10.36 lakh kilograms in 1988, Kashmir produced 6.65 kilograms while as Jammu’ share was only 3.71 kilograms. As a matter of fact, currently, forty percent of the silk production comes from the Kashmir Valley, while 60 percent comes from the Jammu region.
Farmers of the Kashmir Valley on their part blame the short supply of mulberry leaves and fertilizers also being responsible for the debacle of the sericulture industry in the valley.
Pertinently, saffron which for ages has been the most valued cash crop for Kashmir is currently facing near extinction in the valley of Kashmir and in quiet contrast it is flourishing in the Jammu region. Saffron, which can be used for used for various medicinal and culinary purposes, is primarily grown in three places—Iran, Spain and Kashmir.Pampore is the heartland of Kashmir’s saffron production. In the last 12 years, what was 14,000 acres of active saffron-producing land in Kashmir has been reduced to 7,700, a reduction of almost 50 percent. The production has also plummeted to very low levels.
In contrast, Iran has increased their cultivation area by 15 percent during the past two years. At present one kilogram of saffron of Kashmir owing to less production costs about $3,500 USD, while the Iranian Saffron is available for $2,500.
In Jammu region it is being grown in Kishtwar, which has not seen such downturn and to add to the agriculture laurels of the Jammu region, while breaking perception and barriers of conducive soil and climatic conditions for saffron cultivation, Udhampur district of Jammu region, has in a major revolutionary agricultural break through very recently successfully produced Saffron in the fields of higher reaches of Panchari, Dudu and Basantgarh.
Emerging on the agricultural map of the country as third district prominently for cultivation and production of saffron, after Pampore in Srinagar and Kishtwar district in Jammu region, Udhampur district has followed these in line.
The various indicators clearly suggest that the Jammu region is enjoying an upper-hand over the Kashmir Valley in terms of various economical indicators. (To be continued)
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