Srinagar, Nov. 3 -- More than a decade after its launch, the ambitious National Saffron Mission-meant to revive the famed saffron fields of Kashmir-has turned into a story of neglect, mismanagement, and unfulfilled promises.

Launched in 2010-11 with a budget of rs 400 crore, the mission was envisioned to rejuvenate saffron cultivation in the Pampore belt by introducing modern irrigation facilities, high-yield corms, and financial incentives to farmers, including rs 25,000 per kanal and subsidized sprinkler systems.

However, a visit to the saffron-growing areas of Pampore tells a very different story. Irrigation pipes meant for fields now lie unused, some tied together and repurposed as makeshift fences.

"These pipes were meant to bring...