Srinagar, Aug 21 (KNS): Director Agriculture Kashmir Altaf Aijaz Andrabi who is also Mission Director, National Mission on Saffron (NMS) held a joint meeting of Agriculture Officers and the Engineers of Mechanical Engineering Department (M.E.D) to review the progress on establishment of Sprinkle Irrigation Systems under National Mission on Saffron (NMS).

Er. Sanjay Sharma Superintending Engineer MED Kashmir, Ab Rashid Bhat Executive Engineer MED Srinagar, M. Qasim Gani Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Arvind Baru Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar, M. Shafi Chief Agriculture Officer Budgam and other concerned officers attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Director Agriculture Kashmir highlighted the importance of irrigation to the saffron fields at the critical crop growth stage as saffron being a moisture stress sensitive crop. Director stressed upon the engineers of M.E.D to ensure that all the 119 Borewells are made functional during the current season in order to ensure timely irrigation supply to the saffron crop as the department cannot afford to delay the establishment of Sprinkle Irrigation System as the project is in partnership with farmers to whom the department is committed to provide irrigation during the current crop cycle.

Andrabi directed that first cycle of irrigation shall be completed in 15 days starting 3rd week of August for providing irrigating of 140m3 per hectare by pressing into service the already completed Bore wells.

Andrabi impressed upon the Chief Agriculture Officers of the department to mobilize the field staff involved with the mission in order to create awareness about the importance of sprinkle irrigation system for increasing the production and productivity of saffron.

SE M.E.D assured the meeting that first cycle of irrigation to the saffron growers will be provided before saffron flowering and Sprinkler Irrigation System will be made operational this season in saffron growing areas.