Kashmir saffron growers asked to register, find buyers on e-auction portal

Srinagar: The Department of Agriculture Tuesday said that it plans to promote trading of GI-tagged Kashmir Saffron under the aegis of India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC, through a pan India e-Auction portal created in collaboration with NSE-IT.

“In this backdrop, Saffron Growers of Kashmir valley  and Buyers across India are requested to register themselves as SELLERS and BUYERS for E- Trading on the  E- Auction portal www.saffroneauctionindia.com, so that hassle free E-Trading between registered Growers and registered Buyers is ensured,” the department said in an official statement.

Earlier this eyar, Kashmiri saffron was granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag, symbolizing its exclusivity in the international market.

As per the documents, the Geographical Indication Registry has approved the GI tagging on the saffron with GI no 635.

Kashmiri saffron, known for its quality and aroma worldwide, has been witnessing an invasion by cheaper Iranian saffron.

Iran is currently the largest producer of saffron in the world, cultivating over 300 tonnes every year on 30,000 hectares of land. In Kashmir, which ranks second in supply, saffron cultivation is limited to about one-eighth that area–3,715 hectares.

As per the figures by the Agriculture Department, Pampore Township in Pulwama district with around 3,200 hectares of land under saffron cultivation produces most of the saffron in the Valley. Around 165 hectares of land is under saffron cultivation in Srinagar. Likewise, 300 hectares of land is under the saffron cultivation Budgam. Kishtwar is the only district in the Jammu division to grow the spice on 50 hectares of land.

Due to the invasion by the Iranian saffron, the price of Kashmiri saffron dropped by 48% after 2007, the year when Iranian imports grew substantially.

Earlier in September 2019, Kashmir’s saffron farmers met the officials of the Geographical Indications Registry in New DelhiDeputy registrar Chinnaraja G Naidu then sought details of the method of production, the area under cultivation and the reasons for GI tagging.

Kashmiri saffron is of superior quality because of the higher concentration of crocin, a carotenoid pigment that gives saffron its color and medicinal value: Its crocin content is 8.72% compared to the Iranian variant’s 6.82%, which gives it a darker color and enhanced medicinal value.