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Saffron growers in J&K to oppose ban on pan masala

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Saffron growers in Jammu and Kashmir are agitating against the proposed ban on pan masala and zarda because they say the ban will affect them.

They say that they are getting a fabulous rate of Rs 30,000 per kilogram of saffron from pan masala manufacturers. ''Once the ban is implemented, the saffron rates would fall to Rs 5,000 a kilogram,'' says Ashiq Wani, publicity secretary of the Kashmir Valley Saffron Growers and Dealers society.

Kashmir saffron growers supply 60 per cent of their total produce to nearly 40 different companies manufacturing chewing pan masala in the country. With an annual turnover of Rs 300 million, the saffron growers have been at the receiving end because of export competition from better quality saffron grown in Spain.

''The ban will sound the death-knell for the Kashmir saffron industry. We only export 10 per cent of our produce to the USA and a few other countries,'' says Wani. Officials say that this year the production of saffron touched an all-time high.

They have now appealed to Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah to intervene and use his offices to ensure that the ban will not be implemented. ''We have also requested our member of Parliament Saifuddin Soz to resist the proposed ban in Parliament.

The growers say that over 200,000 people are involved in the industry in Kashmir. According to official figures, the total production in 1996 was 157.9 quintals; it shot up to 172.89 quintals in 1997.

Besides, the total area of land under cultivation of saffron has also increased to 5,316 hectares this year. Growers say that only 50 kg of saffron was exported last year and that due to high production cost and low margins, they are unable to export more.

An office-bearer of the Saffron Growers and Dealers Association says that the availability of low-priced Iranian and Spanish saffron has cut into the Kashmir saffron market share.

Saffron growers are also incensed by the governmental apathy. They say there is always a tussle between various government departments over the promotion plans for the commodity.

The director of agriculture, however, denies the growers' claim that saffron is used in pan masala. ''It is mostly used in drugs, juice factories besides religious rituals.''

UNI

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Jammu and Kashmir