Pampore: The saffron fields in South Kashmir’s Pampore wear a deserted look during the daytime, it is only in the early morning when farmers can be seen working in these fields. The farmers have not abandoned the cultivation of this prized crop but the considerable decline in the production of saffron has led to less engagement with this lucrative agricultural practice.
Even though Kashmir holds a distinction for being the only state in India that cultivates this multipurpose saffron crop, the succesive central and state governments have done little to revive the saffron industry of Kashmir.
Kashmir Horizon talked to many farmers in Pampore and Lethpora area of South Kashmir who are associated with the saffron business; in order to know their version of why saffron production has declined. Most of them attributed the decline of saffron production (particularly of present year) to continuous dry spell. “It has been months now and there is no rainfall, the soil has lost the moisture. In such a situation what else can we expect other than meagre production of the crop,” said a farmer Riyaz Ahmad who hails from Lethpora Pulwama.
“The production is nearly 70 percent less compared to previous year,” he added. When asked if the water sprinkling system that were installed by the government proved of any help, Riyaz said that “it was impossible to install water sprinklers on every field and the fields which managed to get water through these sprinklers, it did not made any difference to the produce. It was only rainfall that could have made a difference.”
Another farmer Shakeel Ahmad from Pampore gave some insights about the saffron business. “The saffron industry of Kashmir has remained confined to the local market only. Dealers from different parts of India come directly to us and we sell them the final yield,” says Shakeel Ahmad adding that “tourism also plays an important role in setting up a profitable market for the Kashmir saffron.”
Danish Ahmad a dealer and producer of Saffron in Pampore told Kashmir Horizon that saffron business was so prosperous before 6-7 years that it would provide employment to a lot of people. “Saffron business is no more a luxury as it does not even ensure self-sufficiency. Many people associated with this business have started to look for other alternatives to make their ends meet,” says Danish adding that ” there was a time when everything from soup to nuts was bought with the money that was made from saffron business. The lack of techniques and practices among the new generation has became one of the reason as why saffron production is declining, nowadays one can see labourers from outside state working in the saffron fields. How are they supposed to know what needs to be done with this agricultural practice.”
Danish also says that given the depressing outlook of saffron business people were more likely to use this land for construct purposes but it is not allowed to do so.
There were also various reports about duping of non-local customers which brought a bad name to the saffron business. “colored maize hair disguised as saffron was sold to customers,” said a working journalist. He said that this fraudulence took a heavy toll on the saffron business. “customers from other states have now became skeptical about the naturalness of Kashmir saffron,” he added.
When i left Pampore, on the way I found a displays board at Lethpora that read “modern saffron fields Pampore” but back in the fields an antique look was evident.
