Saffron Cultivation: In the quaint village of Yangyang in Sikkim, a trial project on growing saffron has just hit a major success! The village recently celebrated its first harvest of saffron, and it’s all looking very promising.

About Saffron

• Saffron is a plant whose dried stigmas (thread-like parts of the flower) are used to make saffron spice.
• Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around the 1st Century BCE.
• It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine and represents the rich cultural heritage of the region.
• It is a very precious and costly product. In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron is referred to as ‘bahukam’.
• It is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir.

Importance

• It rejuvenates health and is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes.
• It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine and represents the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Areas

• Saffron has been traditionally grown in a specific region of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
• The main area for saffron cultivation is the Pampore region, often referred to as the “Saffron bowl of Kashmir.”
• Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmir is acknowledged as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage system (GIAHS) site in India.
• Other districts like Budgam, Srinagar, and Kishtwar also contribute to saffron production.
• Recently, Kashmir saffron received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag status.

Season

• In India, saffron Corms (seeds) are cultivated during the months of June and July and at some places in August and September.
• It starts flowering in October.

Conditions

Altitude: Saffron loves hanging out in the mountains, particularly around 2000 meters above sea level. It enjoys that elevated life.

Soil: Saffron is not too picky about soil; it can make a home in various types. But, it throws the best parties in soil rich with calcium carbonate, full of humus, and that drains well. The ideal pH for this party is between 6 and 8.

Climate: Saffron is a fan of seasons. It likes explicit summers and winters, where summer temperatures above 35-40 degrees Celsius, and winter gets a bit chilly at -15 to -20 degrees Celsius. It’s a saffron way of saying, “I like balance.”

Rainfall: Saffron is not into droughts. It prefers places where the raindrops fall generously, aiming for an annual rainfall of 1000-1500 mm. Showers are its kind of music.

Sunlight (Photoperiod): Saffron needs its daily dose of sunlight. Give it at least 12 hours of sunshine, and it will bloom happily. Think of it as saffron’s daily vitamin D fix.

Initiatives to Promote Saffron Cultivation

• In 2010, the central government gave the green light to the National Saffron Mission to help saffron production. The focus was on improving irrigation with tube wells and sprinkler sets.
• The Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) and the Government of Himachal Pradesh joined forces to boost the production of saffron and heeng (asafoetida).
• As part of the plan, IHBT will introduce new saffron and heeng varieties from other countries, adapting them to Indian conditions for better crops.

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