Jammu, Mar 25, CNS: The Jammu and Kashmir government has acknowledged saffron as a key cash crop, contributing over Rs 500 crore annually to the economy, but also expressed concerns over its steep production decline from 22,500 kg to around 2,000 kg over the years.
In a written response to the assembly, the government stated that the National Mission on Saffron is being implemented to rejuvenate the sector through measures such as Geographic Indication (GI) certification, value addition, and export promotion. These efforts have led to some stability in the industry, with productivity improvements benefiting farmers.
According to data from the Department of Agriculture, saffron production stood at 17.33 metric tonnes in 2021, generating Rs 302.35 crore in export revenue. However, it declined to 14.87 metric tonnes in 2022 before slightly improving to 14.94 metric tonnes in 2023. The area under cultivation has remained constant at 3,715 hectares since 2010-11, but fluctuating weather conditions have impacted yields.
A SKUAST-K study identified key challenges, including high cultivation costs, low benefit-cost ratio, erratic weather, and moisture stress, which have discouraged farmers. However, productivity has seen a positive trend, rising from 1.27 kg per hectare in 2000-01 to 4.42 kg per hectare in 2022-23 due to government interventions.
To improve market access, the India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre in Pampore, built at Rs 37.81 crore, has introduced an e-auction facility, enhancing farmer participation and processing volumes. The number of farmers using the centre increased from 1,527 in 2020-21 to 5,866 in 2023-24, while GI-certified saffron marketed via e-auction grew from 25.24 kg to 87.35 kg in the same period.
Despite these efforts, the government acknowledges that challenges remain in sustaining saffron production and ensuring farmer participation. Further research, modernization of farming techniques, and climate resilience measures are planned to strengthen the saffron sector in Kashmir. (CNS)
