Visit Overview
Srinagar, 19 June 2026: Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director General (Flowers, Vegetables, Spices & Medicinal Plants), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, visited the Advanced Research Station for Saffron and Temperate Seed Spices (ARSS&TSS), SKUAST-Kashmir, Pampore, and ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Srinagar on a monitoring visit.
The main objective of the visit was to review the progress of the Pran (Allium sp.) programme being implemented under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), New Delhi, for the development of Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) Test Guidelines.
DUS Guidelines Review – Pran (Allium sp.)
During the detailed technical review, Dr. Pandey evaluated the status of germplasm characterization, standardization of morphological descriptors, and advancements towards finalizing the DUS guidelines. Dr. M. H. Khan, Principal Investigator (Lead Centre) and Dr. Geetika Malik, Principal Investigator (Coordinating Centre), presented the achievements of the project.
The ADG appreciated the systematic and significant progress made by the team and offered valuable suggestions for further strengthening the characterization process.
Review of AICRP on Spices – Saffron & Kala-zeera Trials
Dr. Pandey also reviewed the ongoing experimental trials on Saffron and Kala-zeera under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Spices. He emphasized identifying suitable agro-climatic regions for expanding Kala-zeera cultivation beyond traditional areas. The Srinagar Centre highlighted major achievements, particularly the promising genotype SRS/KZ/177 of Kala-zeera, which has shown superior performance and is proposed for release during the current year.
Focus on Heeng (Asafoetida) Research
Dr. Pandey further stressed the urgent need to initiate a comprehensive research programme on Hing (Asafoetida) to identify suitable growing regions, develop standardized production technologies, reduce import dependence, and enhance farmers' income.
Appreciation & Way Forward
Dr. Sudhakar Pandey expressed satisfaction over the significant achievements of ARSS&TSS in research and extension activities related to Saffron, Kala-zeera, Pran, and other temperate seed spices. He commended the dedicated efforts of the scientific team and looked forward to continued progress in the development of temperate spice crops for the benefit of farmers in the region.
