Saffron cultivation in Harsil Valley fails to bloom

Harsil: The Horticulture Department’s innovative plan to grow saffron in Harsil Valley (Uttarakhand) has turned into a disaster. The department took a leaf from the Jammu and Kashmir horticulture to grow valuable saffron in the state to increase farmers’ income. Farmers believe that lack of advanced training was the reason for its failure because the weather of J&K and Uttarakhand is almost similar.

Farmers believe that saffron could become an important source of income alongside apples and kidney beans. As per the officials, the valley’s climate is not suitable for saffron cultivation. The saffron farming was initiated in 2022 in eight villages of Harsil Valley, including Mukhba, Dharali, Harsil, Bagori, Jhala, Purali, Jaspur, and Sukki. In the beginning, a few farmers were picked and given saffron seeds brought from Kashmir.

One of the farmers, Sanjay Panwar, explained that in the beginning the result was positive. Unfortunately, the production dipped by 50 percent in the second phase; after that, there is no production. He thinks that modern training may improve the situation in the valley. Farmers were ambitious that saffron cultivation would change their destiny. But everything went wrong and against the plan.

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Chief Horticulture Officer D.K. Tiwari explained that saffron grows best at altitudes of 5,000–6,000 feet, while Harsil Valley is situated at approximately 9,000 feet, leading to climate challenges.

The brainchild behind the production of saffron in Uttarakhand was the former Chief Horticulture Officer, Rajneesh Singh, who collaborated with Kashmir’s Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology to provide saffron seeds. However, things turned topsy-turvy after the transfer of Singh, leaving the dream plan incomplete.

Farmers and experts believe that the project with better training and alternate locations will be successful, and it would be a possible source of income especially for farmers.