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Srinagar, Aug 3 (UNI) Admitting cultivation of saffron has come down from 5000 to 3830 hectares, Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar today said the government will take all steps to promote its cultivation.

Mr Zargar was speaking in the Legislative Council where he introduced a bill to encourage cultivation of saffron and to check use of saffron land for construction purposes.

The bill also seeks to regulate the quality of saffron meant for sale.

Mr Zargar said as per the survey conducted by the state Agriculture Department in the mid-eighties, 5000 hectares were under saffron cultivation in some areas of south Kashmir district of Pulwama, including Pampore.

He said the productivity of saffron has never exceeded 150 grams per 'kanal' and total cultivable area under saffron at present is 3830 hectares in these areas and added there are 8300 cultivators and 125 wholesale sellers and retailers in the area at present.

The minister said that one of the main factors responsible for reduction in the area of saffron field is due to drought which prevailed during the years 2001-01 and 2002-03.

He said during this period, the production per 'kanal' was as low as 50 grams. Another factor, he said, has been the outbreak of corm rot syndrome, for which necessary campaigning has been launched to educate farmers.

UNI BAS PA DS1610