<p class="p1">With an aim to promote the trade of world-famous geographical indication (GI) certified Kashmiri Saffron, the government launched an e-auction website yesterday.</p>
<p class="p1">Director Agriculture Kashmir, Syed Aijaz Altaf Andrabi launched an online portal ‘<a href="http://www.gikashmirsaffron.com/">www.gikashmirsaffron.com</a>' to auction Kashmir saffron.</p>
<p class="p1">He also requested the state sellers and growers to register on the website which will help them to boost their economy without the interference of intermediaries.</p>
<p class="p1">Aiyaz also said that the department of agriculture also help the growers to get the “quality certificate.”</p>
<p class="p1">The department of agriculture under the aegis of India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC), has created the PAN India e-Auction portal in collaboration with NSE-IT.</p>
<p class="p1">According to the Aiyaz, soon after the saffron got the GI tag in July, the saffron growers of the valley requested them to launch an e-platform for the sellers and buyers.</p>
<p class="p1">Speaking about the auction process, Aijaz said, "We started the bidding process for 50 grams at the rate of Rs 200 per gram for lacha and Rs 185 per gram for Mogra. After the process, we closed at Rs 227 per gram for the former. This was the first day we are hopeful that there will be a surge in the saffron price which normally struggles in the open market.”</p>
<p class="p1">Aijaz also said that the pricing will increase as they’ll open to the international market .</p>
<p class="p1">Expressing the hope that the platform will help the state in reviving the saffron industry, Aijaz added, “ Government is helping us to revive the saffron industry.  This online e-auction platform will help us in generating an economic impact for the stabilization, empowerment, and empowerment as well.”</p>.