Drought and heat threaten saffron sowing in Kashmir

In Kashmir, particularly in Pulwama and on the Karewa plateau in the Budgam district, hundreds of hectares of saffron fields have suffered due to dry weather and unusually high temperatures. September was predominantly dry, and in October, air temperatures significantly exceeded normal ranges. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, reported that on October 4, the maximum temperature reached 31.2°C, becoming the second-highest reading for October since 1935. The following day, the temperature was 31°C, which is approximately 5.6°C above normal.

Due to the extreme heat, farmers find it difficult to maintain the required level of soil moisture, which negatively affects the vegetative growth and flowering of the crop, as well as the underground plant parts — corms. October is a critical month for saffron, as vegetative growth and flowering take place during this time, requiring adequate soil moisture. Farmer Ali Mohammad, who grows the crop on a plot of more than six kanals, said that he dug a well in the middle of the field to ensure a water supply and is going to install drip irrigation. Another producer, Abdul Majid, noted that the lack of precipitation and the persistence of dry weather threaten severe losses for the already shrinking harvest.

Saffron cultivation provides livelihoods for 20,000 to 25,000 families in the region, with average spice production ranging from 13 to 14 tonnes annually. Farmers are concerned about the prospect of another poor season against the backdrop of shrinking agricultural land, erratic weather conditions, declining incomes, and rising production costs, which deprives them of a financial cushion to cover new losses.