Pampore, Feb 13: The Spices Board of India, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Regional Office Srinagar, in collaboration with the Directorate of Agriculture Kashmir, organised a one-day programme titled “Saffron Day Celebration for Promotion and Market Linkage of GI Saffron” at the India International Kashmir Saffron Trade Center (IIKSTC), Dusoo Pampore.
An official spokesperson said the event aimed at creating a streamlined and effective market channel for saffron farmers and traders, while enhancing the promotion and visibility of GI-tagged Kashmir saffron.
During the programme, Ashutosh Gautam, Scientist and Deputy Director, Spices Board Srinagar, participated in an in-depth discussion on domestic and international trade, trade regulations for the US and EU markets, and platforms supporting seamless trade linkages, including FIEO and the Spice Exchange. He also highlighted the availability of trade statistics through portals of DGFT, the International Trade Center, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, officials told Kashmir Convener.
The chief guest, Madan Gopal Singh, Joint Director (Extension), Directorate of Agriculture Kashmir, shared insights on the overall spice trade with special reference to Kashmir saffron. He elaborated on the importance of GI tagging, quality standards, certification, and traceability, and held detailed discussions with exporters on price dynamics, quality assurance of GI saffron, and limitations associated with non-GI saffron.
The programme witnessed participation of around 60 stakeholders, including saffron farmers, traders, entrepreneurs, and officials from concerned departments. Representatives from Amber Foods and Spices (Coimbatore), Gadhawi Enterprises (Ahmedabad), Ruchi Jain (New Delhi), Waqas Altaf (Srinagar), and Brillions Ventures (Pune) joined virtually and interacted with local farmers and traders.
Outbound exporters engaged in comprehensive discussions on GI saffron protocols, traceability mechanisms, bulk supply at designated export points, and certification processes. Officials from the Spices Board Srinagar and IIKSTC Dusoo also briefed participants on their respective functional domains.
Farmers and traders appreciated the Spices Board and the Directorate of Agriculture for facilitating constructive and outcome-oriented deliberations. Commending the initiative, Joint Director Madan Gopal Singh expressed interest in strengthening future collaborations to further promote Kashmir’s GI-tagged saffron in domestic and global markets.
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