Srinagar, July 2: The Centre will set up a ₹150-crore ‘Clean Plant Center’ in Srinagar under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
“A ₹150-crore Clean Plant Center will be established in Srinagar under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). It will focus on clean, disease-free planting material for apples, almonds, walnuts, and berries. Private nurseries will also be supported to ensure high-quality, pathogen-free plants are made available to farmers,” said Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development
Highlighting ‘saffron’ as a symbol of Kashmir’s identity, Chouhan announced that the central government would establish a tissue culture lab and nursery to boost saffron production. He said the National Saffron Mission would be revised to suit local conditions, and an expert team of scientists would be formed to improve productivity and reduce losses.