SHILLONG: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has reiterated the government's vision of transforming the northeastern region into the next saffron hub of India and expanding large-scale saffron farming outside of Pampore, Jammu & Kashmir.
The minister emphasized the Northeast's agricultural and technological transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR)'s permanent campus in Shillong, Meghalaya, on Thursday.
According to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, saffron farming has been successfully expanded to Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya since the Mission Saffron program began in 2021.
Plans are in place to develop saffron cultivation in Nagaland and Manipur, while large-scale farming is already underway at Mecchukha in Arunachal Pradesh and at Yuksom in Sikkim. The initiative makes smart use of uncultivated land to increase agricultural potential without disrupting current crops.
Highlighting the government's commitment to the Northeast, the Union Minister stated that the region has witnessed remarkable infrastructural growth over the past decade. He cited expanded road networks, railway connectivity, and aerial transport as key enablers in making the once-remote region more accessible and economically vibrant.
Established in 2014, NECTAR has been instrumental in promoting saffron cultivation, along with advancements in drone technology for land mapping under the 'Swamitva' program, bamboo and honey production, and sustainable agriculture, he said.
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