THE SAFFRON OF KASHMIR
The misty mornings of Kashmir after autumn in the months of September-October, gets filled with beautiful fragrance of crocus sativus, the flower that produces the precious spice known as saffron, or Zafran by its Persian name. The low mountains in the region of Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar, gives ease to a fertile land to the sea of purple flower which give production to one of the world’s most precious spices, saffron
Kashmiri families can be seen wearing Pherans and rushing towards the fields to harvest the saffron crocus flower, which bloom only two weeks a year
Growing of Saffron
The journey begins in the month of April, whenthe soil is ploughed twice so that the moisture seeps in. The seeds of the flower are expensive, which ranges from 50000/- investment for 1/8th of an Acre. The seeds are sown in the months that follow and is given space to bloom. The cultivation of saffron needs a lot of patience because some hasty decision will destroy the very delicate flower. Finally around mid-october comes the time, when farmers gets the fruit of their hard work. Whole family rushes for picking of flowers as the race is against time. The flowers are then picked dried and sorted.
Around 30,000 families only in the Pampore area are associated with saffron cultivation. Crocin, which gives saffron its darker colour is richly found in the lands of Kashmir. This takes Kashmiri saffron to league ahead as it has 8.72% concentration as compared to its Iranian’s Saffron which has 6.82% of concentration. This makes Kashmir Saffron of superior quality in appearance and medicinal value.
Separation of Red Strands from Flower
The saffron flower has three parts, and all three parts are equally important. First one is flower petals which are used for medicinal purposes, then are the delicate yellow strands. In between are the red strands which are pure saffron. A single flower produces just three red strands; one gram of saffron is made from around 350 strands. 1,50,000 flowers are plucked and used to get around one kilogram of spice. The rarity of red strands also give rise to malpractice by merchants as they colour the yellow strands and mix with the red ones.
Types of Saffron
Kashmir saffron is the only one in its family which isgrown at an altitude of 1600m to 1800m above sea level. This quality of Kashmiri saffron adds to its uniqueness and differentiates it from saffron around the world.
Kashmir produces basically three types of Saffron, ‘Lachha saffron’, ‘Mongra saffron’ and ‘Guchhi Saffron’. The difference between them is in its strand’s separation and packing. ‘Lachha saffron’ gets its stigma separated and dried without processing, ‘Mongra saffron’ are traditionally prepared saffron and ‘Guchhi saffron’ is similar to ‘Lachha’ except that latter’s dried stigma are packed in loosely air tight contain er while former ones are bundle tied with cloth thread.
Use of Saffron in home
Saffron is used widely in Kashmiri kitchens. Kehwa – a slow-brewed green tea, infused with saffron and spices like cinnamon and cardamom, garnished with almonds, and sweetened with sugar or honey. Kehwa is widely consumed throughout the valley in all age groups as substitute to tea and coffee.
Initiative by the Govt.
In 2010, the central government launched theNational Saffron Mission with a budget of $57 million to revive production and study new cultivation methods. Saffron Trading Centre in Pampore is also functional with high-tech post-harvesting facilities. Such facilities gives ease to local farmers and also give them opportunity to trade saffron in reasonable higher prices. On July 25 2020, Kashmir-grown saffron was given the prestigious international Geographical Indication (GI Tag), a designation that will safeguard adulteration in saffron trade and will also fetch higher prices by farmers.
Challenges Ahead
Changing climatic conditions and presence ofmilitants in the area has disturbed free farming and trade of Saffron. Govt has helped farmers by digging borewells for water but electric power supply remains an issue. Though after abrogation of Article 370 and after forming of new assembly, it is expected that saffron cultivation will be the priority as the state for producing ‘best saffron of the world’.
Journey from Flower to Beautiful Red Saffron
In spite to such favourable conditions, marketing is very hectic, expensive and laborious exercise. Kashmir in spite of militant activities and anti-Indian ideology propagated across the borders, the state has always shown exceptional interest in the business with the nation. The state has an unbeaten record of being the finest producer and supplier of Saffron after Independence. There is a sense of satisfaction amongst the farmers as far as the demand is concerned, and if this wind prevails, the time is not far when their will be more modernisation in supply and production.
