Would anyone grow a crop that yields only 3 to 5 kg per hectare? Yes, because the crop is saffron, not kappa and kachi. The most expensive spice in the world! Agricultural produce worth two and a half to three lakh rupees per kg! Income up to 15 lakh rupees per hectare!
What is the annual consumption of saffron in the country? 100 metric tons. Our annual production is only 8-10 MT. Our fairies and beauties are somehow holding back just because they are imported.
So what if saffron grown in Kashmir is cultivated in Kerala? No kidding, it will happen. Studies have shown that Kanthallur and Vattavada areas in Idukki district are suitable for saffron cultivation. Unfinished, saffron has been cultivated and flowered on an experimental basis.
Last year the Shantanpara Agricultural Science Center started experimental saffron cultivation at Kanthallur Perumala, mini Kashmir Kerala and Vattavada Orchard.
Sudhakar Soundharajan, Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Protection), Krishi Vigyan Kendram, who leads the cultivation, says that the experiment, which has evaluated the arable land suitability of these areas, the morphology of the saffron, yield level and quality, has given great hope so far.
Flower season has arrived
Saffron grows at an altitude of 2000-2500 meters above sea level. The daytime temperature during flowering should be between 25 and 27 degrees. The night temperature will vary from -5 to 5 degrees. Kanthallur and Vattavada regions, which combine a cool climate and fertile soil, belong to this category. Sudhakar said that these areas will get suitable weather for saffron cultivation in December.
Growing saffron is simple. The planting stock is corms. It is enough to prepare the ground and calculate the distance of 12 cm and dig a hole to a depth of 15 cm and plant the tubers. However, the climatic variables controlling each stage such as flower production, harvest period, tuber production for subsequent cropping and tuber dormancy after flowering must be coordinated. Flowering starts from 20 days after planting. However, after a year and a half to two years of planting, the flowers will start to get a good income. An average of 3 flowers can be obtained from one tuber. After a season of harvest, the tubers of the plant go dormant. After a gap of 4 months, the blooming season is back.
Sudhakar says tuber production is the biggest hurdle in agriculture. Potatoes are only produced in suitable climates for continuous growing. Chinnakanal, Kanthallur and Vattavada districts were selected for cultivation in the experiment conducted in Idukki. In this respect the experiment at Chinnakanal was not very successful. The flowers bloomed in a farm in Kanthallur. Meanwhile, Vattavada was also found to be suitable for sweet potato production. Based on this, cultivation for flowers will be concentrated at Kanthallur and tuber production at Vattavada.
KVK collected the tubers required for experimental cultivation from the saffron research center in Pampore, Kashmir. Sudhakar also got training in farming methods from here. Saffron potatoes weigh only 10-15 grams. These were planted in a protray and maintained for 30 days until germination. 400 tubers were germinated in this way. Instead, it was well plowed and planted in a field prepared with lime and organic fertiliser.
As the first stage of the experiment, about 100 flowers were obtained from Kanthallur. Sudhakar said that although the unexpected change in the weather has caused a little disturbance, the experiments so far are yielding good results. KVK is trying to produce more planting material and make it available to the farmers in the coming seasons.
Indoor saffron
KVK is experimenting with growing saffron not only in open fields but also in controlled conditions like polyhouses. It is estimated that one kg of flowers can be produced in 2-3 years from such a farm which is prepared in an area of 300 square yards. This type of farming has an investment of around 5 lakh rupees. It can be assumed that the farming will reach a profit in the third year.
The story of the saffron
Apart from India, saffron is cultivated in many countries like China, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Greece, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Annual global production of saffron is estimated at 300 metric tons. 90 percent of it is contributed by Iran. Saffron cultivation is said to have come to Kashmir from Greece three and a half centuries ago. The quality of saffron grown everywhere is not the same. Flower quality varies according to the environmental conditions of the growing regions. Accordingly, the market value will go up and down. Saffron from Pampore in Kashmir is the most valuable in the market.
In fact, not the flower, but the stigma, the female part of the flower, and the style attached to it are dried to make the spice saffron. One gram of saffron is obtained from 275-285 flowers. One kg of saffron is obtained from about two and three quarter lakh flowers. In Kashmir, about 2500 hectares of land is under cultivation in areas like Pampore, Sampore and Chandara. Himachal Pradesh also has a small scale. There are three types of saffron cultivated in the world; Aquila, Cream, Lacha. The Lacha variety is cultivated in Kashmir.
Information Credits:
Sudhakar Soundharajan (Subject Matter Expert), Preethu K. Paul (Subject Matter Expert), Marimuthu, Senior Scientist and Principal (KVK Idukki).
Telephone: 0486 8299871
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