Srinagar, Feb 12 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government has firmly rejected claims of a steep decline in saffron production in recent years, saying that output has remained stable and overall productivity and farmer earnings have significantly improved under the National Mission on Saffron.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Hasnain Masoodi in the Assembly, the Agriculture Production Department, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that saffron production has not fallen to negligible levels, as alleged in some quarters. Instead, it said, the sector, once in sharp decline, has witnessed revival and steady growth following the launch of the “Economic Revival of J&K Saffron Sector” project in 2010–11.
The department said that before the Mission was introduced, saffron cultivation in Kashmir was facing a serious crisis. The area under the crop had shrunk dramatically from 5,707 hectares to 3,715 hectares, while productivity plunged to alarmingly low levels — just 1.27 kg per hectare in 2000–01 and 1.68 kg per hectare in 2003–04 — leading to poor overall output and falling farmer incomes, it said.
"However, after the intervention of the National Mission on Saffron, the downward trend was effectively halted. The cultivated area has remained stable at 3,715 hectares since 2010–11, spread across 3,665 hectares in the Kashmir division and 50 hectares in Kishtwar," the department said, adding that the government has identified more areas for future expansion under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
As per the department, productivity has shown a clear upward trajectory over the years, except for three periods — 2014–15, 2017–18 and 2018–19 — when extreme climatic events hit the crop. It said the devastating floods of 2014 and prolonged dry spells in subsequent years caused temporary dips, pulling productivity down to between 1.50 kg and 1.75 kg per hectare even in rejuvenated fields.
“Despite these weather-related setbacks, the overall trend in rejuvenated saffron areas reflects sustained improvement in both yield and production, significantly enhancing output and export potential,” the government told the House.
Assembly data shows that saffron production stood at 17.33 metric tonnes in 2020–21, dipped slightly to around 14.9 metric tonnes in 2021–22 and 2022–23, surged to 23.53 metric tonnes in 2023–24, and remained strong at 19.58 metric tonnes in 2024–25. Average productivity peaked at 6.33 kg per hectare in 2023–24 before settling at 5.27 kg per hectare in the latest year — far higher than pre-Mission levels.
In rejuvenated fields developed under the Mission, productivity has reached as high as 4.42 kg per hectare in 2023 and ranged between 4.4 kg and 6 kg per hectare in recent years. Even non-traditional saffron areas have recorded encouraging results, with yields rising to nearly 5 kg per hectare.
The financial impact on growers has been equally significant. The value of saffron production increased from Rs 302.35 crore in 2020–21 to Rs 564.72 crore in 2022–23, while export earnings climbed from Rs 272.12 crore to over Rs 491 crore by 2023–24. In 2024–25, exports remained strong at around Rs 486 crore.
A major contributor to this turnaround has been the establishment of the Indian Institute of Kashmir Saffron and Technology Centre (IIKSTC), which introduced scientific post-harvest processing and modern drying techniques, the department said, adding that these innovations improved saffron colour strength from about eight to nine per cent under traditional methods to nearly 16 per cent through scientific drying.
The Agriculture Production Department said the Mission also helped farmers secure much better prices. "Grower realisation increased sharply from around Rs 80,000 per kilogram earlier to about Rs 2.20 lakh per kilogram in 2021–22. Recovery of saffron stigma improved as well, rising from 22 grams per kilogram to about 28 grams due to improved processing practices," it said.
To curb exploitation by middlemen, the government introduced e-auctions at the IIKSTC, allowing transparent price discovery and enabling buyers from across India to participate directly. Officials said this has significantly reduced the influence of intermediaries and ensured fair farm-gate prices for growers.
While highlighting the Mission’s achievements, the government acknowledged that parts of the irrigation component remain incomplete. Of the 3,665 hectares identified for sprinkler-based irrigation in the Kashmir division, about 2,548.75 hectares have been rejuvenated, leaving 1,116 hectares yet to be covered.
The project had envisaged 124 community bore-wells to support irrigation across saffron fields. So far, 85 bore-wells have been handed over to the Agriculture Department, but a government review committee found that 77 of them have remained non-functional for long periods, with only eight currently operational in Srinagar and Budgam.
Officials cited repeated failure of tenders due to poor contractor response, high operational and maintenance costs for farmers, and damage to infrastructure by miscreants as key reasons for delays. The department also flagged growing pressure from real estate activity and land encroachment in saffron-growing belts as a serious threat to the crop’s future.
To address these issues, the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Pulwama has constituted a high-level committee headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Awantipora to monitor restoration and functionality of bore-wells under different clusters of the Mission. The panel has been tasked with conducting weekly field inspections, resolving bottlenecks and submitting regular progress reports.
On crop rejuvenation, the government said that out of the total 3,665 hectares in the Kashmir division, around 2,598.75 hectares have already been replanted with improved corms. The remaining 1,116.25 hectares will be covered in a phased manner, with major activity planned during the 2026–27 planting season. Awareness drives and farmer consultations are already underway to ensure full participation.
Despite lingering challenges, the government maintained that the National Mission on Saffron has largely achieved its core objectives.
“The majority of the intended outcomes have been realised, particularly in halting area decline, boosting productivity, improving quality and enhancing farmer incomes,” the department said. “While some components remain incomplete due to various constraints, sustained efforts are underway to strengthen irrigation infrastructure and ensure the long-term revival and growth of Kashmir’s saffron sector.”
The government reiterated that far from collapsing, the saffron industry in Jammu and Kashmir has regained momentum by emerging stronger, more productive and more profitable than it was before the launch of the Mission—(KNO)