Basit Zargar/Pampore (Kashmir)

Farmers in Kashmir's saffron belt of Pampore have begun harvesting the prized purple flowers, hoping for a better crop this year after suffering significant losses during the previous season.

The fields in Pampore and its adjoining villages in south Kashmir's Pulwama district are witnessing the annual flowering season, as farmers gather early in the morning to pluck delicate saffron flowers before separating the precious red stigmas that are later dried to produce the world's most expensive spice.

Called 'red gold', saffron is among Kashmir's most valuable agricultural products. Its cultivation has remained a traditional source of livelihood for thousands of farming families, particularly in Pampore, which is regarded as the saffron capital of Kashmir.

A family busy plucking saffron flowers

However, the crop has faced repeated challenges in recent years, with changing weather patterns, inadequate rainfall, declining snowfall and insufficient irrigation affecting production.

Irshad Ahmad, a saffron grower from Patlibagh in Pampore, said the current season had brought some improvement compared with last year, when farmers suffered substantial losses.

"This year, the crop is comparatively better," Ahmad said, adding that saffron growers had witnessed an almost 80 per cent decline in production during the previous season.

Freshly harvested Crop of Saffron

He said the lack of moisture in the fields had severely affected flowering last year, leaving many farmers disappointed despite their hard work and investment.

The recent rainfall has provided some relief to cultivators, although farmers remain cautious about the final production as flowering continues across the saffron belt.

For many growers, the harvesting season involves long hours of manual labour. Families often work together to collect the flowers, which are then taken home for the delicate process of separating the red stigmas from the purple petals. The stigmas are subsequently dried and preserved before being sold in local and outside markets.

A family collecting saffron flowers

Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, a saffron grower from Munpora in Pampore, said timely irrigation had helped improve production in his fields. He has harvested more than 100 kilograms of saffron flowers this season.

"We had not expected such a bumper saffron crop this year, and we are extremely happy with the encouraging harvest," Bhat said, crediting timely irrigation for the improved yield.

Agriculture Extension Officer Pampore Mir Ashiq Hussain said flowering was being reported from several saffron-growing villages, including Pampore, Munpora, Konibal, Dusoo, Ladhoo, Chandhara and Lethpora.

A child enjoying in the saffron field

He said timely rainfall had helped the crop this season, while replanting activities undertaken under the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project were also beginning to show encouraging results.

"We are hopeful of a good harvest this year. We expect that the hard work put in by farmers and the efforts made under various initiatives will yield positive results," Hussain said.

Despite the encouraging signs in some fields, growers say the future of saffron cultivation depends on reliable irrigation facilities, protection of traditional saffron land and support for farmers.

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For the cultivators of Pampore, the annual harvest is not merely an agricultural activity but a tradition passed down through generations, connecting families to the land and the region's cultural heritage.