Saffron as an asset to agriculture industry in Kashmir.....Short communication

1. Saffron as an asset to Agriculture industry in Kashmir
Kashmir is one of the biggest saffron producing areas in India. The quality of Kashmiri saffron spice is as good as that of Iran and thus is highly sought
after in the international market. The high cost of this spice is due to the difficulty in manually extracting the large number of minute stigmas from the
flower. Kashmiri saffron is used as a fabric dye and also for treating depression. Its carminative (suppressing of cramps and flatulence) and emmenagogic
(enhancing pelvic blood flow) properties have led to its extensive use in Indian medicine. Kashmir saffron is top class among all the saffron grown and
traded in the world. The world is willing to pay a high price for Kashmiri saffron. Therefore this spice has the potential to play a big role in improving the
standards of living in Jammu and Kashmir, which tops the list of saffron growing states in India.
Rehana Javid
Apiculture
Various Crocus species represent a good resource for honeybee colonies during periods
of hardship: between winter and spring and in autumn, but are usually unimportant in
terms of honey production in Italy (Ferrazzi 1991).
Traditional Uses
In Kashmir, saffron has a long history of being used in culinary (Kashmiri cusine,
wazwaan), Kashmiri tea (Kehwa). It is also widely used in confectionary, alcoholic and
non alcoholic beverages, colouring agent for sausages, oleomargarines, dairy products
such as butter, cheese and ice cream for color and flavour improvement (Hosseini et al.,
2010).
Medicinal Uses
Crocetin glycosyl esters are responsible for its characteristic color. These compounds
are found in extremely important proportion in stigmas (Sampathu et al., 1984).
Saffron stigmas inhibit blood coagulation, via their effect on platelet-aggregation, and
accelerate in vitro fibrinolysis activity of urokinase and plasmin (Nishio et al.1987).
Saffron is also used as a perfume, also used as a herbal medicine for curing respiratory
infections and disorders like coughs and common colds, scarlet fever, and asthma
(Golmohammadi, 2012),treats other health disorders like insomnia, paralysis, heart
diseases, gout, chronic uterine haemorrhage, dysmenorrheal, amenorrhea, baby colic
and eye disorders.
USES OF SAFFRON
Status of Saffron in Kashmir during the last few years
Year Area(ha) Production(t)
2000-2001 2831 3.59
2001-2002 2880 6.52
2002-2003 2742 5.15
2003-2004 3075 4.83
2004-2005 2989 8.85
2005-2006 2928 4.85
2006-2007 2436 9.13
2007-2008 3110 5.06
2008-2009 3280 9.46
2009-2010 3785 9.55
2010-2011 3790 9.85
2011-2012 3674 10
2012-2013 3674 11.5
2013-2014 3674 15
2014-2015 3674 9.6
Source: Planning Department, J&K Government and Directorate of Agriculture, Kashmir and Jammu Divisions
Plant Morphology Saffron threads
Good Management Practices for higher
productivity of Saffron
•Raise the Corm productivity(Nursery
Management and Tissue culture)
•Corm sorting and grading
•Corm treatment before sowing
•Land preparation
•Assured Irrigation (sprinkler)
•Improving Soil fertility
•Management of insect, pest and disease
•Proper flower picking
•Proper post harvest handling
• Flower Processing
Corm Sprouting under invitro conditionsGrowth stages
Phenological Stage Month Critical
Period
Desirable Temperature
(Degree centigrade)
Desirable
Precipitation
(mm)
Max Min
Sprouting August 15th to
30th
23-25 14-16 69
Shoot Elongation &
Flower initiation
September/O
ctober
Ist Sept to
20th Oct
23-25 14-16 86
Vegetative Phase March/May Ist March-
30th May
March 14-16 4-6 88
April 20-21 9-11 88
May 22-24 9-11 88
Conclusion
Our country has achieved a lot in agriculture and horticulture since independence. But there is still
an urgent need of taking concrete steps at the grass root level so that people dependent on
agriculture and horticulture profit more from their professions. Nobody can deny the fact that
agriculture has an important role to play in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Agriculture itself
is a vast field. It’s like a tree which has endless branches. One among them is related to Saffron
cultivation. Saffron industry in Kashmir as a result would generate foreign exchange earnings due
to its monopolistic character and quality
In order to increase the productivity of saffron, there is a need to adopt the integrated nutrient
supply and management (INSAM) practices. Introduction of post harvest technology for flower
picking, separation of pistil and quick reduction in moisture have potential to bring about
improvement over strenuous traditional practices and returns to the growers from the superior
quality product. But Saffron, the legendary crop is under threat of extinction and thus warrants
attention of researchers, farmers and policy makers. Strong market demand is the biggest
opportunity for revival of this industry as is being presently done in Kashmir India.