Despite the launch of the National Saffron Mission, saffron production remains disappointing.

27-Jan-2026 09:25 PM

Pulwama: The central government launched the National Saffron Mission in the financial year 2010-11 with a budget of Rs 400.11 crore to increase saffron production by expanding irrigation facilities and promoting new agricultural techniques. 

However, regrettably, even after 15 years, the lack of irrigation facilities in the saffron-producing areas of Jammu and Kashmir has not been resolved, nor have producers been adequately encouraged to adopt new production methods (techniques).

As a result, saffron production in Jammu and Kashmir has plummeted from 15 tons in 2010-11 to between 1 and 4 tons in recent years.

Producers say that due to climate change, there is little to no rainfall for extended periods during the winter months in the saffron-producing regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

While the government promised to provide irrigation facilities to the producers, no concrete steps have been taken in this direction so far.

On the other hand, government officials claim that 2598 hectares of land have been revived by providing irrigation facilities under the program.

However, farmers say that if this claim were true, saffron production should have increased, whereas the reality is that production is continuously declining.

Official figures show that in Jammu and Kashmir, the country's only traditional saffron-producing state, approximately 8 tons (8000 kg) of saffron were produced in the 2010-11 season, which decreased by 67.5 percent to 2.60 tons (2600 kg) by the 2023-24 season.

However, a nearly 4 percent increase in saffron production was recorded during the 2023-24 season compared to the 2022-23 season. The government's own figures expose the hollowness of the official claims.