India: Kashmir farmers seek revision in saffron rates after good harvest this year

After so many years, there is a wave of joy in the Kashmir Valley as the saffron farmers are busy plucking saffron flowers in their fields. The Pampore area in Pulwama is the main hub for growing saffron. Around 3700 hectares of land is being used for saffron cultivation. Now, it’s being cultivated across different districts of Kashmir. Zahoor Ahmad Kuchay, a farmer said – “It’s a good harvest this season. The produce is much better than the previous years. It was really less in the last 5-6 years, but this year due to rainfall it is a good harvest. Kashmir Saffron is of the best quality and it has a lot medicinal properties. We are hoping that the government will help us to market saffron. The GI tag will help us a lot. The rains are the main factor for the increase in the produce.” Saffron is the most expensive plant found in the world. Being so expensive, it is also called red gold. Cultivation… A geographical indication or GI is a sign or symbol used on products, which have a ...