Kashmir farmers start indoor saffron cultivation

Have you ever thought of growing saffron at home? For the first time, local farmers of Pampore have started indoor saffron cultivation on an experimental basis. “I have planted 400 saffron seeds in small trays in a room, and the crop is expected to produce flowers by 20th October. A team of experts has surveyed it recently and they are positive about the results. It can give a yield of up to 600 grams,” said Abdul Majeed Wani, president of the Saffron Growers Association. Wani is one of the cultivators who have started indoor farming. Wani said saffron farming in present times faces challenges of the area, production, and productivity drop. “This is on an experimental basis. After this everyone with even a small space can produce saffron in a room,” he added. An official at Skuast-Kashmir said growing saffron in a room can increase the production in the valley. “Our saffron land has shrunk over the years due to encroachments and farmers ...