Above-average rainfall last month rekindles hope of better saffron harvest
Pampore, Oct 23: Saffron growers in south Kashmir's Pulwama district are expecting a good harvest following beneficial rains in September, which supported the crop’s early vegetative growth. Farmers said the September showers improved soil moisture, giving the posh spice a healthy start. However, the corms, the underground bulbs from which the crop grows, remain thinner than usual, a factor that could affect overall yield if favourable conditions do not continue. “The early vegetative growth is good thanks to the rains, but the corms are not very thick,” said Irshad Ahmad a progressive farmer from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. He attributed the thinness of corms to the last year’s prolonged dry spell.
Ali Mohmmad, another farmer from Pampore said that overall prospects for the good harvest remain positive.
“Early growth has been positive due to the rains in September, and with careful monitoring we expect the saffron to bloom on time,” he added. Kashmir produces nearly all of India’s saffron, with Pampore accounting for a significant share. The crop is a high-value spice, and its cultivation supports thousands of farmers and contributes substantially to rural incomes across the region. With the harvest season approaching, growers are closely monitoring their farms, hoping that good rainfall earlier in September will translate into a productive and profitable saffron season this year.
In recent years, shifting weather patterns have adversely affected saffron production in Kashmir. Official figures show that output has fallen by 65 percent over the past two decades, while the area under cultivation has decreased from 5,707 hectares in 1996–97 to just 2,387.1 hectares in 2019–20.
In a bid to revive the sector, the Jammu and Kashmir government in 2023 approved a Rs 146 crore initiative aimed at promoting niche crops under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program, highlighting the region’s distinctive agricultural heritage. Officials said the project aims to bring over 300 hectares of land back under saffron cultivation, providing a boost to both production and local livelihoods.
