Saffron Farmers
Saffron farmers of Pampore and other parts of Kashmir are getting a lot of encouragement from the J&K administration. In the recent past they have been provided with a lot of facilities which includes a better facility for their saffron to get the market.
In this direction recently one of the Advisors visited lethpora and inaugurated Pampore Saffron Farmers Producer Company Ltd. He said that the objective of the scheme is to provide small and marginal farmers better collective strength for better access to quality input, technology, credit and better marketing access through economies of scale for better realization of income.
He said the Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been launched to facilitate small and marginal farmers with access to improved technology, credit, better input and more markets to incentivize them to produce better quality commodities.
Formation and promotion of FPOs is the first step for converting Krishi into “Atma Nirbhar Krishi”, which will enhance cost effective production and productivity and higher net incomes to the members of the FPO. The move would also help improve the rural economy and create job opportunities for rural youths in villages itself.
He further said that FPOs will be provided financial assistance up to Rs 18 lakh per FPO for a period of 3 years. Besides, provision has been made for matching equity grant up to Rs 2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs 15 lakh per FPO and a credit guarantee facility up to Rs 2 crore of project loan per FPO from eligible lending institutions to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs, he added.
