Saffron Industry suffers Rs 7,000-Crore Loss as Harvest Falls to 15%
Growers dejected as “red gold” wilts; NC MLA Hasnain Masoodi calls NSM ‘a total failure’
Srinagar: Kashmir’s saffron growers are facing one of the worst seasons in recent years, with this year’s harvest dropping to just 15 percent of the expected yield. The fall in production has caused an estimated Rs 7,000-crore loss to the region’s saffron industry.
According to official figures, saffron production in Jammu and Kashmir has come down from around 8 metric tonnes in 2010-11 to just 2.6 metric tonnes in 2023-24, showing a steep decline of more than 65 percent. With saffron selling for around Rs 5 lakh per kilogram, the losses have badly hit farmers in Pampore and nearby areas — the heart of Kashmir’s saffron belt.
“This year’s yield is the worst I have ever seen,” said Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, a grower from Pampore. “We barely got one kilogram from the same land that once gave us eight to ten kilos. There was no proper irrigation, and the rains came too late.”
Another farmer, Abdul Hamid Dar, said, “We were promised better irrigation and support under the National Saffron Mission, but on the ground nothing has changed. The pipes and sprinklers are either broken or not connected.”
National Conference MLA from Pampore, Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, blamed poor planning and mismanagement for the current crisis.
“The National Saffron Mission has completely failed,” he said. “Millions were spent, but not a single irrigation system is working. Farmers are left helpless.”
Officials admit that irrigation and maintenance remain major concerns but insist some progress has been made.
An agriculture department official said, “We have connected 73 out of 123 deep-bore wells to sprinkler systems, but several still need repairs and testing.”
Growers, however, say these steps have brought little relief.
“Every year we are told things will improve, but our income keeps shrinking,” said Ghulam Rasool Rather from Konibal. “If the government doesn’t act now, saffron farming will disappear.”
Saffron cultivation is not just a source of livelihood but also a symbol of Kashmir’s identity. With production dipping year after year, farmers fear that the region’s centuries-old saffron heritage may soon fade away.
“Saffron is our pride,” said Shabir Ahmad Wani of Pampore. “If these fields go barren, we will lose more than just a crop — we will lose our tradition.”
