India: Good rainfall and GI tag attempting to bring saffron production back to its glory days in Kashmir

Good rains this season and GI tag for Kashmiri saffron has encouraged farmers in Jammu and Kashmir to produce saffron again. Many Kashmir farmers have been deterred from engaging in saffron cultivation as a result of the invasion of cheap Iranian saffron into Indian and international markets. Iranian saffron is up to 48% cheaper than Kashmiri saffron, and it controls 95% of the global market. To conserve high-quality Kashmiri saffron, the Geographical Indication Registry approved GI tagging on the saffron with GI number 635 in 2020. The majority of producers had increased yield last year, because of favorable weather conditions. In August, September, and October, saffron requires rainfall, which the valley received on time. Producers are anticipating a bigger harvest next year. Saffron cultivation is a significant contribution to the Union Territory’s agriculture industry, which employs over 80% of the population. The last time Kashmir produced 15 metric tonnes of saffron annually ...