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Source- This post on the Saffron crop has been created based on the article “Losing spice: Kashmir’s prized saffron crop hit by dry spells” published in “Business Line” on 31 July 2024.
Why in the news?
Due to erratic weather, many farmers in Kashmir are shifting from growing saffron to cultivating apple orchards or mustard crops.
About Saffron
| Aspects | Description |
| Description | 1. Saffron is a highly valuable spice known as “Red Gold” or “Golden Condiment.” 2. The part used commercially is the stigma, which is the female part of the flower, also called saffron filament, thread, or stigmata. 3. Saffron plants grow from underground bulbs called corms. They regenerate through vegetative multiplication. |
| Key Compounds | It contains crocin, picrocrocin, and saffranal, which are important for medicinal and aesthetic uses. |
| Distribution | 1. Saffron originally comes from Greece and Asia Minor. 2. It is now grown in Europe (Italy, France, Spain), China, and India. 3. Around 90% of India’s saffron is produced in Kashmir, where it has been grown for centuries. |
| Required Climatic Conditions | 1. It grows best at elevations of 1,500-2,000 meters above sea level. 2. It requires temperatures between 35°C to 40°C in summer and 15°C to -20°C in winter. 3. It is suitable for dry, moderate, and continental climates. |
| Soil Requirements | It thrives in loamy, sandy, and calcareous soils and prefers acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 8.5. |
UPSC Syllabus: Agriculture
