Saffron is the most expensive spice on earth, but farmers decided to grow apples, reports ETV Bharat. Mohammad Asif Azad, a farmer from Kashmir, shared his story of how the annual harvest is not enough to pay the workers.
What happened?
Only 250 grams (about half a pound) of saffron were harvested from 15 kanals of land (approximately 1.9 acres), compared to the expected 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds). A mixture of sand and clay is ideal soil for growing crops. These areas, known as karevas, are slowly deteriorating and disappearing due to changing temperatures and urbanization.
Abdul Majeed Wani, a local leader of a saffron growers group, explained the dire situation of the harvest.
“Saffron farmers were never interested in government jobs as our income was enough to sustain our lives,” he said. “But now, our younger generation is looking for jobs because this kind of farming will not be sustainable after the next five years.”
The association’s harvest is equivalent to only 10% of the previous year’s harvest, forcing companies to look for other avenues.
Why is saffron’s decline important?
Saffron farmers are experiencing some of the worst growing conditions in recent history, with three months of drought affecting their land. As saffron becomes rarer and more expensive, the world will feel the hit. Furthermore, the rapid reduction in availability highlights the rate at which global temperatures and soil conditions are changing, one of the most pressing issues requiring increased awareness.
Farmers may resort to unhealthy farming practices to compensate for these conditions, such as using chemical fertilizers and other dangerous, exploitative farming methods to maximize yields. Even cherry growers in Kashmir are facing similar growing problems as natural disasters like hailstorms ravage the region.
Growers will also be forced to use far more water than necessary, pushing irrigation technology and water tables to their limits. This could delay positive progress toward a healthier planet, especially since water shortages already threaten many communities around the world.
What measures have been taken against saffron losses?
Local growers have met with officials to design a plan. Part of this includes using renewable energy to power critical drilling to reduce fuel costs. They are also trying to control smuggling of saffron bulbs, the plant’s storage organ. This theft threatens farmers’ stability.
Farmers are also changing their strategies, adopting regenerative farming practices such as no-till farming and organic strategies. This phenomenon is happening globally, especially as growers turn to more resilient crops, such as those found in Azad apple orchards.
However, farms with more resources are implementing more innovative solutions, such as smart technology and robots, to see if they can detect problems before they become unmanageable. This reimagining of precision agriculture could be the future for many.
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