corms

Kashmir’s ‘Red Gold’ Faces New Threat from Saffron Corm Smuggling

Kashmir’s saffron industry is battling the illegal outflow of corms to Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, driven by higher prices and falling local yields. Production last year hit only about 10% of normal levels, while the area under saffron has declined by nearly 35% since 1996-97, prompting government conservation efforts.