South Kashmir’s Pampore is popular worldwide for its saffron flower. A farmer from almost every home is engaged in saffron cultivation. But now these farmers are facing new terror. Rarely, an animal like a farmer can destroy their crops, but Kashmir farmers face this danger every day. We will tell you that Pampore is the center of saffron industry. It is the third largest saffron producer in the world after Iran and Afghanistan.
Great saffron growing saffron in pamper
Local people regard the Pampor land as sacred. The best saffron flower is produced in the world, which contains 8.72 % of the crocin. Crucine determines the value of saffron and antioxidant. The more antioxidant in the saffron flower, the cost of the more because its quality is better than the rest. Saffron produced in Kashmir is dark red and its scent is very sharp.
With challenges for over three decades
According to the Al Jazeera report, Pampore farmers faced many challenges and came out of them every time. The challenges faced by farmers for more than three decades between the trafficking and adulterers of saffron and adulteration in international markets have been affected by the prices for producers. But now the most expensive spices in the world are facing a new and surprising threat in Kashmir and it is Sah.
Sahi’s terror on agriculture now
The animal, which was once confined to the forests of the region, has now entered the saffron fields due to lack of exorcization, housing and climate change. Sahi is a protected race in Jammu and Kashmir. Separating from the rest of the animals, looking for saffron bulbs for their food, digging the earth to depth. Kashmir’s saffron production is already struggling. Due to irregular rains, adequate irrigation and urban occupation on agricultural land, it only dropped from 15.97 MT to 3.48 MT in 2021-22 in 1997-98.
Sai devastating damage
Farmers say that in the last five to seven years, the deadly damage crisis caused by SAI has increased. Farmers say that due to SAI every year, up to 30 percent of their crop is lost. According to government data, by 2024, saffron yields in Kashmir came to 2.6 metric tonnes. For this reason, Million, which runs 32,000 families in the entire area, is in danger of 45 million industry.
In the last two years, due to SAI, farmers estimate that they have lost at least 300,000 rupees. Farmers first thought these were part of the animals. But then they began to get thorns around the fields, and then they realized that this problem was too big.
The forest department’s efforts were unsuccessful
The forest department attempted to spray the biological royalty last year in view of the rising infection. Farmers thought it would be away from it. A farmer from the area was effective for some time, but he returned. Sahi, since then, dig more deeply. At the same time, some farmers have resorted to traditional methods, because they have hedgehogs around their farms, from flood lights to night patrolling. But none of these methods have been effective.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wowkdft9i5i
