Saffron growers

Kashmir Saffron Industry is facing a slump as the cultivation is remaining very low for the past few years, forcing many growers in saffron rich township of Pampore in South Kashmir to shift to horticulture sector. Many saffron fields in Pampore being converted into fruit orchardists, is growing trend and it is very disturbing to see saffron fields shrinking at such a speed.

In the past few years, saffron growers have not been able to come out from a cycle of very low yield of saffron due to many factors including climate change. The government has not been able to provide modern means of water facilities in the fields of saffron and most of them are only waiting for the rains during those months when they need it for the saffron flowers to bloom.

The local authorities have been maintaining that they are going to modernize this trade and will also do the market intervention so that the saffron growers will get good money and would be saved from many exploiters in this trade.

Due to untimely snowfall, there has been a huge set back to the saffron trade in Kashmir and the newly established UT of JK has not been able to do anything new for them to save them from the cycle of debt. In such a situation, the saffron growers of Kashmir are waiting for the intervention of the local authorities for the marketing and some compensation from Lt. Governor Girish Chandra Murmu. So far there has been no official intervention in this matter.