Untimely snowfall has badly damaged the saffron crop in the north Indian state of Kashmir.

Footage filmed near Srinagar on November 14 shows saffron pickers recovering damaged flowers from fields hit by the damaging snows.

Saffron production from the region reportedly was at least two tons in 2018, with projections from the Agriculture Department suggesting that up to seven tons would be produced this year.

However, Saffron Growers Association President Abdul Majeed Wani commented: “Almost 30 percent of saffron production has been damaged by the snow. There will now be less than 5 tons of saffron production,”

A number of other factors have contributed to the damaged crops in addition to the snowfall, including neglect of rural infrastructure and disruption caused by increased restrictions on travel implemented by the government.

Untimely snowfall has badly damaged the saffron crop in northern India

Although Saffron production was expected to increase by 200 percent increase in the valley this year than 2018,but the untimely snowfall has badly damaged the saffron crop.
Data shows that the saffron production has seen a spike this harvesting season as compared to last year, which saw a minimum production of two tons.
The Agriculture Department had made an assessment and expected seven tonnes of saffron production this year.
However, President, Saffron Growers Association, local said that snowfall has hit the saffron production.
“Almost 30 percent of saffron production has been damaged by the snow. There will now be less than 5 tons of saffron production,” Wani said.
The harvesting of saffron starts from last week of October till November end. He said that decline in saffron production last year was due to dry weather. “The production of saffron was expected to increase only by irrigation facilities,” he said.
Wain claimed that farmers have started using the new technology under a centrally sponsored scheme ‘National Mission on Saffron’.
“The irrigation component within the scheme is still incomplete. The production would have seen steady increase every year if the irrigation facilities are made available,” he said.
Saffron flowers are sensitive to vagaries of the weather. Its production depends on the weather conditions and the irrigation facilities.
To give boost to the saffron production, ministry of Agriculture and Production, Government of India started a scheme ‘National Mission on Saffron’ in 2010 for seven years with project cost of Rs 400.11 crore in Kashmir. So far, the government has utilised only Rs 203 crore.
Unable to meet March 2019 deadline, the centre has extended the time period for completion of scheme to March 2020.
A senior official of Agriculture Department blamed the saffron growers for “not coming forward” to get benefits under the scheme.
He said land mafia was creating hurdles for laying of pipe network for irrigation facilities. “There is target of 126 tube wells of which 116 have been completed. Once the process is completed, there will be significant increase in saffron production,” he said.
As per the official figures, saffron crop was being cultivated on 5707 hectares of land at Pampore in 1996, which has now reached to around 3500 hectares