Context:
The erratic weather patterns have led many farmers to convert their saffron fields into apple orchards or to grow mustard crops in Kashmir.
Relevance:
GS III: Agriculture
Saffron Crop
- Overview:
- Saffron is known as one of the costliest herbal spices globally, often referred to as “Red Gold” or the “Golden Condiment.”
- The commercial part used from the saffron flower is the stigma, also known as saffron filament, thread, or stigmata.
- Botanical Characteristics:
- Saffron seeds, called corms or bulbs, regenerate the plant through vegetative multiplication.
- The plant contains key compounds such as crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal, which are valued for both medicinal and aesthetic purposes.
- Distribution:
- Native to Greece and Asia Minor, saffron is now cultivated in various parts of Europe (notably Italy, France, and Spain), China, and India.
- In India, approximately 90% of saffron production is concentrated in Kashmir, where it has a long history of cultivation.
- Climatic and Soil Requirements:
- Elevation: Saffron thrives at elevations of 1,500-2,000 meters above mean sea level.
- Temperature: It requires specific climatic conditions, with summer temperatures not exceeding 35°C to 40°C and winter temperatures as low as -15°C to -20°C.
- Climate Types: Suitable for dry, moderate, and continental climates.
- Soil: Saffron grows best in loamy, sandy, and calcareous soils, with a preference for acidic conditions, thriving in soil pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.5.
-Source: The Hindu
