CSIR-IHBT Palampur, HP conducted Capacity building program for the agriculture officers

CSIR-IHBT Palampur, HP conducted Capacity building program for the agriculture officers on production technology of saffron and heeng.
CSIR-IHBT Palampur conducted a five-day capacity building program for the agriculture officers of the Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, on the production technology of saffron and heeng from September 06-10, 2022. Thirteen Agriculture Development Officers and Agriculture Extension Officers from six districts, viz., Chamba, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul & Spiti, and Mandi, participated in the program. While speaking on the occasion, Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, said that CSIR-IHBT Palampur is implementing the projects funded by the state government on saffron and heeng in association with State Agriculture Department under the ‘Krishi se sampanta Yojna’. Agricultural staff and farmers need to be trained to ensure the success of the project. Therefore, from time to time, training at farmers’ fields and at CSIR-IHBT Palampur is being organized for the successful cultivation of saffron and heeng in non-traditional areas of Himachal Pradesh. He said that it is crucial that crop and seed production should take place in Himachal in order to fulfil the vision of making Himachal Pradesh a dominant producer of saffron and heeng. He assured the officers of the help from his team in each and every step of the cultivation process of saffron and heeng.

Dr Rakesh Kumar, Senior Principal Scientist cum Principal Investigator of the project and Program Coordinator of the capacity building program, told about the importance of the production of spice crops, saffron and heeng for the country’s economy. He asserted that IHBT faculty members emphasized on agro techniques throughout this programme, including soil sampling, site selection, plantation techniques, nutrient management, weed control, insect pest control, harvesting, storage, packaging, and post-harvest management of saffron and heeng, as well as tissue culture techniques. He stated that around 100 tonnes of saffron are required in India each year. In comparison, only 9-13 tons are produced in Jammu & Kashmir, which is not sufficient to meet the country’s demand, and therefore it is imported from countries like Iran and Afghanistan. Therefore, it is important to search alternate sites for cultivation and train the agriculture extension officers and farmers to reduce the import of these crops. Currently, saffron is being grown in the Pampore and Kishtwar region of J&K. Dr Ashok Kumar, PI of the heeng project told that the country spends approximately 942 crores annually to import 1540 tons heeng from Afghanistan, Iran & Uzbekistan. To make India self-reliant, production of these spice crops must be initiated in areas suitable for their cultivation. During the five-day program the agriculture officers were educated about the improved Agrotechnology, quality analysis, biotic and abiotic stress and their management and tissue culture techniques of saffron and heeng. An on-field practical demonstration for saffron and heeng cultivation was also conducted. The officers also visited various facilities at CSIR-IHBT.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT believed that the participants acquired the knowledge related to the technologies required for the successful cultivation of these crops. The important elements in the project’s success are the officials who have regular interactions with the farmers who cultivate saffron and heeng. He further said that it is important to maintain both the quality and quantity of the spice crops to badge the title of self-reliant Himachal, thus in the making of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Further elaborating dream of self-reliant Himachal, he said that it is important that seed production, as well as crop production of these spice crops occurs in Himachal Pradesh.