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For generations, Pampore has been known as the land of saffron — a place where the deep red strands of Crocus sativus symbolized prosperity and heritage. But today, the same land is becoming a symbol of frustration and helplessness for hundreds of farmers. The reason? The Jammu & Kashmir Saffron Act, 2007 — a law that was introduced to “protect saffron cultivation” but is now suffocating the very farmers it was meant to empower.
A Law That Controls, Not Protects
When the Saffron Act was enacted, its intention may have been noble — to preserve saffron lands and ensure sustainable cultivation. But over time, Section 3(2) of the Act has become a powerful tool in the hands of the bureaucracy. It prohibits any non-agricultural use of saffron-designated land unless specifically permitted by the government.
What sounds like a protective clause has turned into an excuse to deny permissions, delay development, and trap farmers in economic stagnation. Farmers who want to construct greenhouses, storage units, or even diversify crops are being stopped in the name of “preserving saffron.” Ironically, the same land is often lying barren, uncultivated, and unproductive.
No Support, Just Restrictions
The government has failed to provide any meaningful support to saffron farmers—no major irrigation projects, no soil rejuvenation plans, and no market protection. Instead, it offers them a blanket restriction on their own land.
Many of us are no longer able to earn a livelihood from saffron alone. Climate change, erratic rainfall, and poor government procurement policies have already made saffron cultivation less viable. Now, the law is denying us even the right to explore alternatives.
Bureaucratic Harassment and Delays
Farmers who apply for land-use changes under Section 3(2) are made to wait for months or even years, with no clear timelines or criteria. Applications disappear in files. Farmers are treated like encroachers on their ancestral lands. What should be a supportive policy has become a bureaucratic weapon.
A Call for Urgent Reform
We are not asking for saffron fields to be turned into shopping malls. We are asking for flexibility, fairness, and a farmer-first policy. If the land is no longer productive or the farmer wants to innovate within agricultural boundaries, the government must support, not obstruct.
The J&K Saffron Act, 2007, in its current form, is outdated and oppressive. It must be reviewed, amended, or repealed to reflect the realities of today’s agriculture. Until then, it will continue to destroy the livelihoods it was meant to protect.
