Kashmir’s prized saffron industry is grappling with the illegal movement of saffron corms outside the Valley amid declining yields and a shrinking area under cultivation, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The corms, bulb-like underground parts from which saffron plants grow, are being transported to states including Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, raising concerns among growers and officials over the availability of planting material for saffron cultivation in Kashmir.
Smuggling incidents and higher prices
Several incidents involving the alleged smuggling of saffron corms outside the Valley have come to light in recent years, the report said. In one such case in August 2025, police seized about 150 kg of saffron corms from a vehicle near a halting station in Awantipora, around 18 km from Pampore’s sprawling saffron fields, and apprehended four people.
The shortage of quality planting material has prompted the government to restrict its movement outside Jammu and Kashmir under the Saffron Act, 2007, and the Seeds Act, 1966. Despite the restrictions, some farmers are selling saffron corms to buyers outside the Valley, attracted by the higher prices they can fetch compared with local markets, growers and officials said.
Abdul Majeed, a saffron grower, said 100 kg of corms can fetch between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 1.7 lakh. “Lured by the good prices and declining yields, some farmers choose to sell the corms,” Majeed said. Farmers said some buyers outside the Valley are seeking the corms for indoor saffron cultivation, with growers in other states experimenting with controlled-environment production.
Declining yields and shrinking area
Saffron growers said production last year fell to only about 10% of normal levels, with some farmers shifting to high-density apple cultivation and other less labour-intensive crops. Official data shows that the area under saffron fell from 5,707 hectares in 1996-97 to about 3,715 hectares in recent years, a decline of nearly 35 per cent.
| Metric | 1996-97 | Recent years | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area under saffron | 5,707 hectares | 3,715 hectares | -35% |
While the government says the cultivated area has stabilised in recent years, growers continue to face concerns over declining yields and the availability of quality planting material.
Conservation and regulation
Farmers and officials have called for stronger conservation of saffron planting material. The Agriculture Department has proposed establishing Saffron Seed Multiplication Nurseries to ensure a steady supply of healthy corms to local growers and safeguard planting stocks for future cultivation.
Ashiq Hussain, Zonal Agriculture Officer, Pampore, told businessline that land had been identified in the saffron-growing town for setting up a public-sector saffron seed multiplication nursery. “This will ensure the availability of quality corms to farmers,” he said. The official added that authorities were also taking measures to prevent the illegal transportation of saffron planting material outside the Valley.
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