Northeast to Become India’s Next Saffron Hub, NECTAR to Lead Agri-Tech Revolution: Dr. Jitendra Singh

Dr. Jitendra Singh said here today that Mission Saffron initiative, which since 2021 has expanded saffron cultivation across Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya. Large-scale cultivation is now underway in Menchukha (Arunachal Pradesh) and Yuksom (Sikkim), with plans to extend to Nagaland and Manipur, making the Northeast India’s next saffron hub after Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore. The initiative strategically utilizes uncultivated land, enhancing agricultural potential without disrupting existing crops.

The Minister highlighted the government's ambitious plans to turn the Northeast into India's next saffron hub, as he laid the foundation stone for the new permanent campus of the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) in Shillong. He emphasized that the region's rapid transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has opened new opportunities for technological and agricultural advancements.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to the region, citing remarkable infrastructural and technological advancements in the past decade. He highlighted how initiatives such as expanded road networks, railway connectivity, and aerial transport have significantly improved accessibility to remote areas.

“The development of the Northeast is one of Prime Minister Modi’s highest priorities. If you compare the situation before 2014 and today, the transformation is evident. The Northeast, which once struggled with connectivity, now boasts robust infrastructure, making economic growth and scientific advancement possible,” Dr. Jitendra Singh said.

NECTAR, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, was established in 2014. The Minister noted that its evolution aligns with the larger vision of fostering self-reliance and innovation in the region. He lauded NECTAR’s initiatives, including the promotion of saffron cultivation in the Northeast in the lines of Lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir, drone technology for land mapping under the ‘Swamitva’ program, and advancements in bamboo and honey production.