Safflower seeds being sold in name of saffron in Gujarat

Palanpur, Apr 10 (UNI) After calling the hoax of a farmer from Jadiya village in Banaskantha district who claimed to have grown saffron in his farm, several such cases have come to light in Gujarat.

Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU) vice chancellor K B Kikani has informed that an organised gang has been found trying to sell ''saffron seeds'' to farmers in Visawadar, Dhoraji, Upleta, Amreli and Bhavnagar regions of Saurashtra.

''Complaints of cheating have been received from some farmers who called me a few days back,'' he said.

JAU associate director Ismail Dhruj points out that both safflower and saffron are similar in colour, shape and size, except for the odour. Safflower, unlike saffron, has no odour.

The ''fake'' saffron seeds are being sold between Rs 20,000 to 25,000 per kilogram by the cheats who bluffed the gullible farmers by claiming that a new variety of saffron has been developed by the state agricultural universities conducive to the state's climate.

Sardar Patel Agricultural University, Dantiwada (SDAU) director of research S B S Tikka and also Prof Kikani refuted such claims saying, ''The universities have never developed any such seeds and the farmers should not be misled by such claims.'' ''In fact, the saffron has no seeds. It is sown as bulbs in the same way as onion. However the saffron needs sub-zero temperature to grow,'' Mr Dhruj pointed out.

Valabhai Rudabhai Patel of Jadiya Village had claimed to have grown saffron in his farm. This had generated much excitement and even Minister of State for Water Supplies and Sewerage Board Harjivan Patel had visited the farm. The Minister had even urged other farmers to cultivate saffron in their farms.

A two-member SDAU team comprising Mr Tikka and Mr I N Dodidya had visited the village and had clarified that the crop that Valabhai Patel was claiming to be saffron was in fact safflower. The current market price of saffron, incidentally, is Rs 40,000 per kilogram.

UNI