Saffron cultivation in India now

Anand Agricultural University (AAU) has successfully grown saffron under controlled conditions and claims that the most expensive herb in the world could be grown in the fields of the north Gujarat region having favourable climatic conditions for its farming. - See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/aau-breaks-new-ground-grows-saffron-at-varsity-farms/1091788/#sthash.cNQdR6uI.dpuf

Anand Agricultural University (AAU) has successfully grown saffron under controlled conditions and claims that the most expensive herb in the world could be grown in the fields of the north Gujarat region having favourable climatic conditions for its farming. - See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/aau-breaks-new-ground-grows-saffron-at-varsity-farms/1091788/#sthash.cNQdR6uI.dpuf

Anand Agricultural University (AAU) has successfully grown saffron under controlled conditions and claims that the most expensive herb in the world could be grown in the fields of the north Gujarat region having favourable climatic conditions for its farming. - See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/aau-breaks-new-ground-grows-saffron-at-varsity-farms/1091788/#sthash.cNQdR6uI.dpuf

Saffron flower

Gujarat are now challenging nature. Despite water shortage in the state, many farmers have been successful in growing     crops which need a lot of water and for which Gujarat’s climate is not at all favourable. 

For instance, apples, saffron and cashew are difficult to grow in water-deficient states like Gujarat. 

Yet some enterprising farmers have experimented and succeeded in growing these crops despite the unfavourable climatic conditions. 

Cashew is being grown in Saurashtra and South Gujarat while Anand Agricultural University has been successful in growing saffron, albeit in greenhouses on its farm. Incidentally, saffron has long been associated with Kashmir and its climate. 

Businessman Rustom Cama has recently joined farmers in experimenting with different crops. 

Apples generally grow in places like Himachal Pradesh where the climate is damp and cold. But he has been successful in growing around 100 apple trees on his arid farmland near Mount Abu.

Cama said that he started growing apple trees four years ago and that the trees had yielded good quality fruit for the last two years. 

“When I first asked a university for apple plants so that I could grow them on my farm near Mount Abu, the university refused. The university evidently thought that it was not possible to grow apples in Mount Abu,” said Cama.  

He further said that as there is shortage of water in the region, it is not possible to grow apple trees in large numbers. He, however, added that he had not found the climate to be much of a problem and the apples grown on his farm were of good quality. 

As for saffron, AAU has grown this spice in greenhouses on its farm in Anand. University officials involved in its farming say that it can be grown in North Gujarat areas – in Patan, Mehsana, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Gandhinagar. Saplings for this purpose can be had from Badgam district in Kashmir valley. The officials say that the quality of saffron grown in Gujarat is as good as that of saffron grown in Kashmir. The period of August to November is most favorable for its cultivation. 

In Saursahtra and South Gujarat, farmers have been successful in growing cashew nut. According to an estimate, 7826 hectares of land in Gujarat is used for cashew farming. The harvest is around 22,860 metric tonnes. Bharat Patel, one of the farmers cultivating cashew in Halvad, said he had grown around 150 cashew trees on his farm. 

“One has to be careful when cultivating cashew as watering of the plants has to be done systematically. I have been growing cashew for the last three years. Though the volume of the yield is not very high, the quality of cashew is good,” Patel said.

Saffron bulbs Saffron Seeds, Saffron Flower, Crocus planting material are available at:

The Jammu and Kashmir medicinal Plants Introduction Centre"Ginkgo House", Nambalbal, New Coloney Azizabad, 

Via Wuyan-Meej Road, Pampore PPR J&K 192121
Mob:09858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.in
 

Anand Agricultural University (AAU) has successfully grown saffron under controlled conditions and claims that the most expensive herb in the world could be grown in the fields of the north Gujarat region having favourable climatic conditions for its farming. - See more at: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/aau-breaks-new-ground-grows-saffron-at-varsity-farms/1091788/#sthash.cNQdR6uI.dpuf

Unmarked graves in Kashmir

Viola-Odorata seed

Police say 2,683 FIRs about unmarked graves in Kashmir registered

Srinagar, June 02 In Kashmir, after the human rights commission, now police have disclosed to have registered 2,683 FIRs about unidentified bodies in unmarked graves in three districts.

The number of FIRs registered by police is 500 more than the figure given by the human rights commission.

The disclosure was made in response to an RTI (right to access information) application filed by the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in the disputed territory.

“These are damning disclosures,” Khuram Parvez of IPTK said.

He said this shows how the authorities have been sitting on this information for many years, and trying to obfuscate the truth.” The police said that of the 2,683 FIRs, the largest number — 492 — were registered at Handwara police station. This was followed by Kupwara (396), Trehgam (326), Lalpora (298) and Vilgam (155). All these police stations are in Kupwara district.

In Baramulla district, 110 FIRs have been registered in Sopore police station, and 103 in Baramulla.

The number of unidentified bodies given by the police is 527 more than what was revealed in an independent investigation by the commission.

Indian Media Directory

Media Directory-2011 : Information of hundreds of News & Entertainment Satellite TV Channels from all over India. Details: Name of the TV Channel, Channel Logo, address, Email, website address, phone No, Fax No. etc.

Available in e-mail/CD-Rom edition 

Price Rs. 1050/-

More details: iirc@rediffmail.com 

Ph: 01933-223705

Mob: 09858986794

e-mail: iirc@rediffmail.com

Saffron seeds for sale

Crocus sativus cashmeriana seeds for sale

Reginal Syn: (Cashmerian) Kong, 

(E) Saffron

(H) Kesar,
(Sanskrit) Keshara

(B) Jaran

(G) Kesare

(Marathi) Kunkuma-Kerari

(German/French) Saffron

(Spanish) Azafran
(Duch) Shafran

(Russian) Safuran 

(Japanese) Zafferanon.
Part Used : Leaf, Fruit, Seeds, Plant.
Constituents : Leaves; Coriantrol, Oxalic acid, Calcium, Vit.-C, Carotene, Essential oil, Tannin, Malic acid and Ash.
Action/Uses : Fruit; aromatic, stimulant, carminative, stomachic, antibilious,
refrigerant, tonic, diuretic, aphrodisiac. Leaves; pungent, aromatic.
Used in; Seeds; to correct bad breathe, dyspepsia. Fruit; flatulence,
Price: INR 3500/100 seeds/-per packet

Calibar : 1

G.type : SM-43
More details: JKMPIC-Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR Jammu and Kashmir 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com

Saffron -Crocus sativuscultivation

Announcement

Saffron Corms and genotypes : Study has ben shown that superior genotypes since last 13 years confirmed  superiority of 5 genotypes viz SMD-45, SMD-3, SMD-52, SMD-81. Elite genotypes recorded saffron yield ranging from 4.0-7.7 kg/ha with corresponding crocin content ranging from 13-89-17.10 percent.

We have been selling corms since last 21 years now and once again will be making corms available from June to September every year.  Those corms will flower in the period from the end of October.

Once again this year we are offering corms for sale in packages designed for home gardeners as well as for those contemplating purchasing corms in bulk.

• 20 Corms (larger than 5 Gram)
• Cashmeriana origon
• Planting Guide
• Superiority of 5 genotypes viz SMD-45, SMD-3, SMD-52, SMD-81.SMD-68
• Available in 5 Calibars  2,5,6,8,10

• Please indicate the numbers of corms and we supply according to the date the order has been received
• A deposit of 100% in advance is required with the order.
• Booking order : 12 months

For further information If you are interested in purchasing Corms from the Chenab Industries Kashmir-CIK nursery, or to request more information email us. cikashmir@gmail.com
Write to: Chenab Industries Kashmir-CIK, POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Contact us at : Chenab industries Kashmir-CIK, Ist street, Shaheed-e-Azemat Road, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR JK 192121
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794
home: http://chenabindustries.blogspot.com

U.S. does not support freedom in Egypt

By Christoph R. Horstel

With courage, enthusiasm and readiness to endure police brutalities and other hardships, the Egyptian people have managed to oust their hitherto nearly unchallenged president Hosni Mubarak and his son Gamal as designated political heir plus assurances for substantial changes in the constitution, a referendum and more attention to the needs of the poor. So far, so good, reports Tehran Times

But are we sure, how much freedom and social justice this new constitution will grant the people? How do we know, that the next set of government measures will gradually overcome the widening gap between rich and poor, mass poverty and joblessness in Egypt?

To check the chances of the people’s will to prevail, we look at history: Since the last 15 years serious transition or succession problems in the Arab world were discussed in western countries. Does anyone truly believe the U.S. never developed any change strategies and/or contingency plans to readiness status?

Then we consider social change in Egypt and elsewhere: A new class of mainly young and often secular-minded Arabs has developed among a larger change from a patriarchal society with hand made goods to an economy with wealthy capitalists, regional entrepreneurs and exporters of natural goods. And it were the wealthy, who used governmental power to further enrich themselves, thus pushing back the traditional set of landlords and bazaar traders.

At least three more key issues should be observed: It was the Serbian movement “Otpor” (once supported by the then U.S. ambassador Richard Miles), and nowadays renamed to “Centre for Non-Violent Action” (CNA) (at least indirectly financed through the “Open Society” network of the U.S. billionaire George Soros), which trained activists of several countries including Egypt and Tunisia. Does that mean the Egyptian revolution is in the hands of the U.S.? Not at all. These activists have a common trademark of working mainly via internet.

“Facebook revolution” is the new buzzword in western capitals – that says more than the eager commentators may have intended. Since all those wonderful internet platforms are subject to U.S. law obliging them to full disclosure of all information on all clients any time to U.S. intelligence, it is very clear, that little happens in Egypt that is not on the intelligence agenda.

No matter how often observers write that the U.S. were taken by surprise, stumbling behind events etc. – that is what those intelligence circles want us to believe. We still hear official blabber on intelligence failures on 9/11 and before the Iraq invasion. Had the U.S. with and through their leading Egyptian collaborators wished to stop the uprising early on, that had never put serious problems in the past and would not have this time. Rather the U.S. had helped prepare the events and let them happen:

The U.S. proxies, namely ex-IAEA boss ElBaradei, were ready, the military was faithful and ready, intelligence well informed. For a political steam pot like Egypt just a tiny, well-calculated reduction in pressure on the lid means heavy spill-overs. Imprisonments, torture and killings even continue to this day. For years the U.S. had used some of their support funds for Egypt to finance all those opposition groups susceptible to U.S. influence, translate: “democratic groups” or “development of civil society”. In vain did Egypt protest against this blatant interference in its interior affairs, as we know through embassy cables in WikiLeaks. And there are enough pictures and records of meetings hosted by Hillary Clinton for Egyptian friends of “Freedom House”.

Does this take any credibility off the Egyptian revolution? Not at all. But the U.S. is trying all the time to influence the results and hijack the benefits. Only awareness and efficient counter activities can stop this.

But this background induces us to look at second key issue: the present leadership personnel, since it will be those leaders to organize the start of Egypt’s future – and maybe more, if they do not abandon power as promised. The CIA lists Omar Suleiman as the most powerful Middle Eastern intelligence chief, the people dub him “Mubarak II”. Suleiman enjoys best contacts to the U.S. intelligence leadership. He has made Egypt a preferred CIA rendition hub and has personally overseen torture.

Therefore it is little wonder, that the demonstrators asked for his removal and were pacified only somewhat by introduction of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) as the real though unconstitutional leadership, comprising among others the defense minister Tantawi and army chief Enan. But what does this mean? In order to fully and truly do the will of the Egyptian people, the army and its intelligence shooting-star Suleiman would have to ultimately give up its obedience to the U.S. That is highly improbable: Location and time are not ready yet for Egypt’s Erdogan.

Until the end of February, the SMC will publish a proposal for changes to the constitution, a nationwide referendum is to be held within two months. That means, as the third key issue: turmoil in Egypt, is far from over. Three simple truths call for attention: The only single intact coherent power base in Egypt is the army. Like in the German army, many higher officers are more or less closely linked to the U.S. by multiple bonds - including years of consecutive training steps, many of them held in the U.S. The whole political fabric in Egypt: social groups, parties, internet-based groupings – are no viable power base, since they lack structure and experience. The one exception is the Muslim Brotherhood. And these valuable people are just by name a political monolith. But that is already enough for the U.S. to riddle them with government spies and make sure their influence will be limited at least for now – and mainly limited to those parts and personalities, which are “constructive” or, more accurately put: “open to influence”.

Another thought for accurate political calculation: Exchange old puppets by fresh puppets is old style. Modern U.S. policy accepts even full chaos as a viable “system” – in case a stable obedience can neither be reached quickly nor guaranteed for the next 20 years: Afghanistan and Pakistan are sad examples.

And, last not least, Obama’s speech on the Middle East held Tuesday made it clear: In their struggle against Iran the U.S. want to be sure to enlist any of the new and unstable leaderships. That is also one of the non-public but rock-hard pre-conditions to U.S. support.

For any opposition movement in the region a tough question appears: How to make sure, that no foreign power can hijack or misuse the accomplishments of political activities? Check the priorities: If the government is not pro-U.S., a one-year time delay in mass demonstrations may help to avoid being identified as part of the present U.S. regional plotting. And publicly as well as credibly disassociating the movement from U.S. government policies may prove helpful in many ways.

*The author is a government and business consultant in Germany, multiple book author and expert since 25 years on issues of Central Asia, the Middle East and security-related questions