The story
Saffron has been grown on the karewa (raised plateau) soils around Pampore for centuries, making it the heart of India's saffron production. Families pick the purple crocus flowers by hand in October–November and separate the red stigmas to dry. Output fell sharply over two decades because of erratic rain, lack of irrigation and land conversion. The National Saffron Mission and a trade centre with testing and GI certification at Dussu, Pampore, aim to revive it.
In numbers
Kashmir's saffron output declined by 65% over 22 years to 2018 — to 5.6 metric tonnes from 16 metric tonnes.
Scroll.in — Amid declining production, Kashmiri farmers seek GI tag for local saffron · 2020
GI tag
- Kashmir SaffronApplication no. GI Application No. 635IP India — Registration Details of Geographical Indications
Ways in for a newcomer
- Branded, GI-certified saffron packs for retail and online
- Saffron-based products — tea blends, cosmetics, sweets
- Corm (bulb) multiplication and supply to growers
- Testing and grading services
Problems the cluster faces
- Falling yields from erratic rain and no irrigation
- Adulterated and Iranian saffron sold as Kashmiri
- Conversion of saffron land to other uses
- Small, fragmented holdings
Businesses to start here
Organic Himalayan Spice Farming →Himalayan Specialty Spices Retail Chain →Masala / Spice Grinding Unit →