It's after a decade that Kashmir's saffron farmers are overjoyed with the saffron produce this year. Farmers are calling it a bumper harvest as the production has surpassed the record for the last ten years. The saffron fields in the valley have turned into an expansive purple canvas and it's a treat for the eyes of locals as well as tourists.&nbsp;

The Pampore area in South Kashmir's Pulwama district also known as the Saffron town is one of the main producers of saffron in Kashmir Valley. Thousands of families in this area are associated with the world's best and most expensive spice. And these days all these families are busy plucking the saffron flowers from the fields.&nbsp;

Kashmir has more than 3700 hectares of land under the cultivation of saffron. The Pampore area in Pulwama is the main hub for growing saffron. Although now it's being cultivated across different districts of Kashmir valley as well. Farmers in Pampore are extremely happy about the crop this year.

''This year, there has been a bumper crop after more than 8-10 years.&nbsp;We haven't seen this kind of crop in so many years. A lot of farmers had no hope that the crop would be any better than previous years but it has surpassed all our expectations. Saffron is a livelihood for all of us living in the area. People had shifted to other jobs but this year the environmental factors were great. The rain played a major role due to which we got the bumper crop after a decade,'' said Dr Ubaid Bashir, Owner PariMahal Saffrons.

The tourists visiting the valley are stopping at these saffron farms to experience the process of saffron farming in the Valley. A lot of tourists are buying the saffron from these farms as well.

''It's such a great experience for us. We have always consumed saffron but now we know why it is so expensive. It takes a lot of hard work to grow saffron. It's a flower and only a few strands come out from one flower, it's a very unique experience. It's for the first time we are seeing Kashmiri saffron farms as it's called the best saffron in the world,'' said Sandeep, a tourist.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;tourists are appreciative of the farmers growing saffron in the Valley. Saffron is used on&nbsp;a lot of occasions in India. Whether it's the puja or making sweets for the festivals,&nbsp;its use is considered very auspicious.

''All our festivals, especially Diwali, use a lot of saffron. We have been using Kashmiri saffron daily, especially putting in milk for our kids. We are so happy to see the farms today and it's a unique experience,'' said Hetal, a tourist.&nbsp;

GI tag has benefitted the saffron farmers with quality control as well as the pricing.

It's after a decade that Kashmir's saffron farmers are overjoyed with the saffron produce this year. Farmers are calling it a bumper harvest as the production has surpassed the record for the last ten years.

It's after a decade that Kashmir's saffron farmers are overjoyed with the saffron produce this year. Farmers are calling it a bumper harvest as the production has surpassed the record for the last ten years. The saffron fields in the valley have turned into an expansive purple canvas and it's a treat for the eyes of locals as well as tourists. The Pampore area in South Kashmir's Pulwama district also known as the Saffron town is one of the main producers of saffron in Kashmir Valley. Thousands of families in this area are associated with the world's best and most expensive spice. And these days all these families are busy plucking the saffron flowers from the fields. Kashmir has more than 3700 hectares of land under the cultivation of saffron. The Pampore area in Pulwama is the main hub for growing saffron. Although now it's being cultivated across different districts of Kashmir valley as well. Farmers in Pampore are extremely happy about the crop this year. ''This year, there has been a bumper crop after more than 8-10 years. We haven't seen this kind of crop in so many years. A lot of farmers had no hope that the crop would be any better than previous years but it has surpassed all our expectations. Saffron is a livelihood for all of us living in the area. People had shifted to other jobs but this year the environmental factors were great. The rain played a major role due to which we got the bumper crop after a decade,'' said Dr Ubaid Bashir, Owner PariMahal Saffrons. The tourists visiting the valley are stopping at these saffron farms to experience the process of saffron farming in the Valley. A lot of tourists are buying the saffron from these farms as well. ''It's such a great experience for us. We have always consumed saffron but now we know why it is so expensive. It takes a lot of hard work to grow saffron. It's a flower and only a few strands come out from one flower, it's a very unique experience. It's for the first time we are seeing Kashmiri saffron farms as it's called the best saffron in the world,'' said Sandeep, a tourist. The tourists are appreciative of the farmers growing saffron in the Valley. Saffron is used on a lot of occasions in India. Whether it's the puja or making sweets for the festivals, its use is considered very auspicious. ''All our festivals, especially Diwali, use a lot of saffron. We have been using Kashmiri saffron daily, especially putting in milk for our kids. We are so happy to see the farms today and it's a unique experience,'' said Hetal, a tourist. GI tag has benefitted the saffron farmers with quality control as well as the pricing.

Kashmir: Bumper saffron harvest after a decade, farmers joyous

Apart from being known from its mesmerizing beauty, the valley of Kashmir is also famous for its high-quality saffron, a spice derived from the crocus flower. Over the years, the world's most expensive spice has seen a decline due to several factors and now due to COVID-19, the market demand has fallen.&nbsp;

The vast fields have turned in a purple canvas and people are busy picking the crocus flower with the first sunrise. The business remains a family affair as thousands of them gather to pick saffron threads by hand with the break of dawn. The purple blossom marks the arrival of winter in Kashmir.&nbsp;

<img alt="JK" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3de033e-197a-4354-8d6c-4512b3035e63" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/flower11.jpg" />

Around first century BC, immigrants from Central Asia are believed to have introduced the Saffron cultivation to Kashmir and since then it has exponentially grown.

Primarily, the spice is commercially grown in Spain, Iran and India but the produce from the valley is considered the best in the World with high price value. From the last few years, the saffron crop has seen a decline in its production caused by several factors including erratic rainfall which experts link to Global warming.&nbsp;

"Global warming is a big factor. Rain doesn't fall on time. The government had installed tube wells but irrigation doesn't happen on time. We want the government to do something about this," says Saqib Qadri, a farmer.&nbsp;

According to a data available, the production of Kashmiri saffron has declined by 65 per cent over 22 years and to save these farmers, the government has come to their rescue by issuing the certificate of geographical indication. This will make Kashmiri saffron stand out from the cheap Iranian variety which currently captures 90 per cent of the world market.

In order to produce just one kilogram of spice, around one lakh fifty thousand flowers must be picked one by one which is a herculean task.&nbsp;

"The opening of Saffron park by the government is a help. We also need proper water sprinkling. The government hasn't been unable to provide us with this but we hope in a year or so, they do this," Rafiq Ahmad says.&nbsp;

Kashmir saffron is used in health products, cosmetics and forms an integral part of traditional Kashmiri dishes.

The local produce is high in aroma with natural deep-red colour and long, thick stigma. This industry in Kashmir employs around one lakh twenty thousand people from about 226 villages and helps boost the rural economy.

Apart from being known from its mesmerizing beauty, the valley of Kashmir is also famous for its high-quality saffron, a spice derived from the crocus flower. Over the years, the world's most expensive spice has seen a decline due to several factors and now due to COVID-19, the market demand has fallen.

Apart from being known from its mesmerizing beauty, the valley of Kashmir is also famous for its high-quality saffron, a spice derived from the crocus flower. Over the years, the world's most expensive spice has seen a decline due to several factors and now due to COVID-19, the market demand has fallen. The vast fields have turned in a purple canvas and people are busy picking the crocus flower with the first sunrise. The business remains a family affair as thousands of them gather to pick saffron threads by hand with the break of dawn. The purple blossom marks the arrival of winter in Kashmir. Around first century BC, immigrants from Central Asia are believed to have introduced the Saffron cultivation to Kashmir and since then it has exponentially grown. Primarily, the spice is commercially grown in Spain, Iran and India but the produce from the valley is considered the best in the World with high price value. From the last few years, the saffron crop has seen a decline in its production caused by several factors including erratic rainfall which experts link to Global warming. "Global warming is a big factor. Rain doesn't fall on time. The government had installed tube wells but irrigation doesn't happen on time. We want the government to do something about this," says Saqib Qadri, a farmer. According to a data available, the production of Kashmiri saffron has declined by 65 per cent over 22 years and to save these farmers, the government has come to their rescue by issuing the certificate of geographical indication. This will make Kashmiri saffron stand out from the cheap Iranian variety which currently captures 90 per cent of the world market. In order to produce just one kilogram of spice, around one lakh fifty thousand flowers must be picked one by one which is a herculean task. "The opening of Saffron park by the government is a help. We also need proper water sprinkling. The government hasn't been unable to provide us with this but we hope in a year or so, they do this," Rafiq Ahmad says. Kashmir saffron is used in health products, cosmetics and forms an integral part of traditional Kashmiri dishes. The local produce is high in aroma with natural deep-red colour and long, thick stigma. This industry in Kashmir employs around one lakh twenty thousand people from about 226 villages and helps boost the rural economy.

How farmers pick world's most expensive spice in Kashmir valley

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Kashmir: Bumper saffron harvest after a decade, farmers joyous

How farmers pick world's most expensive spice in Kashmir valley