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

Jitendra Singh said that the Northeast will be a crucial driver of India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh has reaffirmed the government’s vision to transform the Northeast into India’s next saffron hub, expanding large-scale saffron cultivation beyond Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore.

Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR)’s permanent campus in Shillong, Meghalaya on Thursday, the Minister highlighted Northeast’s technological and agricultural transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the Mission Saffron initiative, launched in 2021, has successfully extended saffron cultivation to Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya.

Large-scale farming is already underway in Menchukha (Arunachal Pradesh) and Yuksom (Sikkim), with future plans to introduce saffron cultivation in Nagaland and Manipur. The initiative strategically utilises uncultivated land, enhancing agricultural potential without disrupting existing crops.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to the Northeast, the Union Minister stated that the region has witnessed remarkable infrastructural growth over the past decade. He cited expanded road networks, railway connectivity, and aerial transport as key enablers in making the once-remote region more accessible and economically vibrant.

“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,” he said.

He said that the Northeast will be a crucial driver of India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.

He stated that as India moves towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, underutilised regions like the Northeast must play a pivotal role in national growth.

He further encouraged NECTAR to develop a specialised scientific research identity, much like premier institutions such as IITs.

The Minister highlighted the key role of NECTAR, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, in driving technological innovation in the Northeast.

Established in 2014, NECTAR has been instrumental in promoting saffron cultivation, alongside advancements in drone technology for land mapping under the ‘Swamitva’ program, bamboo and honey production, and sustainable agriculture, he said.

Speaking about the NECTAR’s permanent campus in New Shillong, the Minister expressed confidence that the facility would become a collaborative centre of excellence, supporting state-of-the-art technology demonstration and skill development.

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