SAFFRON BOWL PROJECT

Why in news?

• North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) under Saffron Bowl project has identified few locations in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya for saffron cultivation.
• In Arunachal Pradesh, there is a good growth of organic saffron with flowers. In Meghalaya, sample plantations were grown at Cherrapunji, Mawsmai and Lalingtop sites.
• The following sites have been identified in Meghalaya under the Saffron Bowl project: Barapani, Cherrapunji, Mawsmai, Shillong, and Lalingtop.

About NECTAR

• NECTAR is an autonomous society, set up under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, with its headquarters at Shillong, Meghalaya.
• With this, the government is looking at harnessing and leveraging niche frontier technologies available with central scientific departments and institutions.
• The aim is to be the leading Centre to foster, nurture and ensure the delivery, sustenance, and use of technology applications for public and social good; and to reach and expand the benefits of technology among people, communities, institutions, and governments for equitable and inclusive social and economic development of the Northeastern Region of the country.

About Saffron

• Saffron is a plant whose dried stigmas (thread-like parts of the flower) are used to make saffron spice.
• Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrantsaround the 1st Century BCE.
• It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine and represents the rich cultural heritage of the region.
• In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron is referred to as ‘bahukam’.
• It is presently cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Pampore region,commonly known as Saffron bowl of Kashmir, is the main contributor to saffron production.
• Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmiris one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems (GIAHS) recognised sites in India