Srinagar

The J&K government has launched new initiatives to promote the marketing and export of specific products from the union territory. Geographical Indication (GI) tagging is also one such initiative which would go a long way in marketing and exporting specific products like saffron.

Kashmir saffron, which is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir, has been given the GI tag by the Geographical Indications Registry. The spice is grown in some regions of Kashmir including Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar.

With the GI tag for Kashmir saffron, India has become the only saffron-producing country for which the indication has been assigned.

GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.

Saffron growers of Kashmir are hopeful to get better prices for their product after the introduction of GI tag. This would enable India to be an important player in the global saffron market in which Iran, the world's largest producer of saffron in the world, has the largest market share.

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Kashmir saffron is grown at an altitude of 1600m to 1800m above mean sea level, which adds to its uniqueness in comparison to other saffron varieties.