What is plaguing Kashmir’s saffron industry?

The decline in both saffron production and the area under cultivation can be attributed to several factors.

The saffron industry in Kashmir is facing a severe crisis, characterised by a significant decline in production and shrinking land dedicated to saffron cultivation. According to data from the Department of Agriculture, Kashmir, saffron production through traditional farming has declined from 15.9796 metric tonnes (MT) in 1997-98 to just 3.4827 MT in 2021-22.

Saffron, also known as the "king of spices," was cultivated on 5,707 hectares of land in 1997-98, which has shrunk to around 3,715 hectares by 2021-22.

Launched nearly a decade ago to boost saffron production in the Valley, the National Saffron Mission has failed to achieve its goals, with farmers stating that it has brought no benefits to the industry.

The decline in both saffron production and the area under cultivation can be attributed to several factors, including conventional farming practices, land contraction, poor market management, adulteration, the influx of cheaper Iranian imports, climate change, and a general lack of interest in farming.

However, these challenges have intensified with the recent presence of numerous porcupines in saffron fields, which now span hundreds of acres.

Covered in quills, the porcupine emerges from its burrow at night and damages saffron corms, particularly during the ongoing winter season.

The saffron crop, famous for its aroma and colour, has been neglected for decades, with the latest threat now coming from the Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix Indica), locally known as "Draen" in Kashmiri. Protected under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, porcupines have rapidly increased in the Kashmir Valley in recent years, and with the loss of forest cover, their growing population poses a significant threat to saffron farms. This complicates control efforts, as farmers are unable to harm the animals.

According to Global Forest Watch (GFW), Jammu and Kashmir had 660,000 hectares of natural forest in 2010, covering 8.3% of its land area. However, by 2023, the region had lost 51 hectares of this forest.

Porcupines have been causing extensive damage to saffron beds in Kashmir, with farmers losing around 15 to 20 percent of planted corms each year. The growing threat is severely impacting livelihoods in the region, as the rodent's nocturnal feeding habits destroy the delicate saffron crop.

Farmers have sounded the alarm that the increasing porcupine infestation could be the final nail in the coffin for saffron, the "red gold," in the valley, as the rodents are not only feeding on the crop but also causing severe damage by devouring and destroying it completely.

The heritage crop, used as a valuable spice in cuisines and various medicinal preparations, provides bread and butter to around 32,000 families in the Valley, including 11,000 women.

According to experts, India’s saffron capital, Pampore, and its surrounding areas are highly susceptible to porcupine infestations due to their proximity to forested regions that harbour these rodents. From there, the porcupines move towards the elevated tablelands, known as karewas, where saffron is cultivated.

Saffron farmers in Kashmir, already battling multiple challenges, have managed to continue cultivating the prized crop despite reduced production and shrinking land. However, with the added threat of rodent infestations, the industry is now facing further decline, painting a grim future for saffron, the world’s costliest spice.

The unchecked proliferation of porcupines, with little effort to control the menace, has led to visible holes in saffron fields, threatening the crop that has brought wealth to the region for over 3,500 years.

Despite farmers' efforts to deter porcupines with lights and horns, their nocturnal activity remains a serious threat, with no effective solution available to protect saffron fields from these continuous attacks.

Many farmers have even attempted garlic spray and planting Iris hookeriana and Iris kashmiriana to repel rodents, but these methods have done little to ease the crisis.

Agriculture experts are urging the Department of Agriculture, Kashmir, to collaborate with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) for research on effective repellents and rodenticides to combat the growing porcupine infestation damaging saffron fields.

The experts also advised the Wildlife Department to install traps for the relocation of porcupines to forests. Delayed action could result in major economic losses, with even 5% damage to saffron costing the region up to Rs 29 million annually, threatening the livelihoods of thousands dependent on the saffron industry.

Last winter, officials from the Agriculture Department and SKUAST-Kashmir applied an organic repellent spray on saffron fields to combat the growing damage caused by porcupines and protect the crops from further destruction.

With reduced yields and growing challenges, many farmers are being forced to abandon saffron farming and switch to other occupations, threatening the future of the Rs 375 crore industry.

India, the second-largest saffron producer after Iran, produces 90% of its saffron in Pampore, Kashmir, which accounts for 7% of global production.

While Spain is the world's largest exporter of saffron, Kashmir produces the highest quality, with its saffron containing 8.72% crocin—responsible for its distinct aroma and medicinal properties—compared to just 6.82% in Iranian saffron.