Sheikh Irfan
Srinagar: Kashmir is all set to break all the previous records of saffron production this year as the crop has witnessed abundant rainfall this season.
As the harvesting of saffron is currently going on in Kashmir, the growers hope for improved production this year.
“The weather been favourable as the crop received abundant and timely rainfalls. The corms were healthy throughout the season. We are hoping for a better production of saffron this year,” said president of saffron growers Abdul Majeed Wani.
He said the crop witnessed no failure due to the timely rainfall during the peak time-July, August, and September.
“The roots were quite healthy, which is an indication that every plant has got abundant nutrition and moisture. We can only tell about overall production one the harvesting is over,” Wani said.
Nazir Ahmad, a grower from Pampore said his production is all set to increase to three kilograms this year.
“Last year, my overall production of saffron was two kilograms on one acre of agricultural land. This year, I am hoping to see an increase in the production as the quantity seems to be much higher than in previous years,” he said.
Since the implementation of the National Saffron Mission by the union government, saffron production in the valley is witnessed an increase in annual production each year.
Last year, saffron production of Kashmir touched a 25-year high in Kashmir. The saffron production was 15.04 metric tonnes last year on a total cultivated area of 3,715 hectares.
Earlier, the highest production was recorded in 1996 when the yield hit 15 MT. The average yield was 2.80 kg per hectare, while the cultivated area was 5,707 hectares.
After approving Geographic Indication tagging to Kashmir saffron, the government is now focussing to promote Saffron in the international market.
Even the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Productions Department Atal Dulloo last week asked the stakeholders to promote Kashmir’s Saffron at international level.
