Attired in a traditional cloak, Abdul Majid Wani, a 65-year-old farmer from Pampore, continues his daily routine despite the biting cold that has gripped the Kashmir Valley as winter sets in. While the mercury dips below freezing, Wani remains unfazed. His days are tightly scheduled this season, working tirelessly with agricultural scientists and government officials in an effort to revive the saffron economy of his hometown.
This season has been devastating for Kashmir’s saffron growers. With an unprecedented decline in production, many farmers are now questioning their long-held faith in a crop that once defined their identity and sustained their livelihoods. Officials estimate that saffron output has fallen by as much as 90 per cent, a collapse attributed to a combination of inadequate infrastructure, changing climate patterns, and repeated attacks by rodents and porcupines.
For growers in Pampore—the heartland of Kashmir’s saffron cultivation—the losses are not just economic, but existential.
“This season we have suffered huge losses. Production has declined by nearly 90 per cent,” said Wani, a progressive saffron farmer. “Most farmers are under severe financial stress now. Many have fallen into debt.”
Wani has been working closely with researchers from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKAUST) and government agencies to identify the causes behind the decline and explore ways to revive saffron cultivation in a town that has long enjoyed global recognition for the prized spice.
“In Pampore, the history of saffron cultivation can be traced back to around 500 BC,” scientists at the Saffron Research Centre told The Legitimate. “The local climate has traditionally been well suited for this crop.”
The extent of the crisis is also evident at the Saffron Park, established for Geographical Indication (GI) tagging to help farmers connect directly with buyers. Officials there report a steep fall in arrivals.
“Last year, we received over 100 kilograms of saffron for GI tagging. This year, the quantity dropped to around 20 kilograms,” an official said, confirming a sharp decline in output.
Researchers acknowledge that conditions have changed significantly over the years. A team led by Dr S.A. Dar at the research institute attributes the decline primarily to climate variability, compounded by structural challenges.
“There has been a noticeable climate shift over a long period,” the researchers said. “Saffron requires at least five timely irrigation cycles during the season to ensure good yield and quality. Non-seasonal rainfall and prolonged dry spells are severely affecting the crop.”
Scientists stress that irrigation remains the single most critical intervention needed to sustain saffron cultivation. As early as 2010, they had warned the government that without adequate irrigation infrastructure, the future of the saffron industry would be at risk.
“Timely irrigation is essential. Without it, the crop cannot survive in the long run,” an official said.
While the government did initiate irrigation projects following these recommendations, farmers argue that the effort failed to deliver results due to poor maintenance and lack of long-term planning.
“Borewells were dug, but later the responsibility for their maintenance was shifted to farmers,” Wani said. “Most of these borewells are now defunct.”
Irrigation failure, however, is only one part of the crisis.
Rodents and porcupines have emerged as a major threat, digging into saffron fields and feeding on corms. Officials say controlling these animals is difficult because they are protected under wildlife laws and cannot be culled.
“We have tried measures such as lighting fields to deter animals, but these are temporary solutions,” officials at the research institute said. “We need a sustainable and economically viable method.”
Experts note that increased industrial activity in the upper reaches of Pampore and adjoining areas has disrupted natural habitats, forcing rodents and porcupines to migrate towards agricultural land. Noise pollution and shrinking vegetation zones have turned saffron fields into easy targets.
As authorities grapple with irrigation and wildlife challenges, the saffron industry faces another, less visible threat: illegal seed trade.
Officials say large quantities of saffron corms are being sold illegally to other states, often through online platforms. Farmers reportedly extract corms from their fields, sell them at high prices, and later depend on subsidised seeds supplied by government departments—supplies that remain limited and inconsistent.
“Farmers are openly selling saffron seeds online and even taking responsibility for delivery,” said an official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Every year, tonnes of corms are sold outside the state, leading to a serious seed shortage locally.”
Compounding the crisis is the steady conversion of saffron land, in violation of the Saffron Act, 2007, which prohibits the conversion of saffron fields for commercial or residential use.
Locals say saffron land—particularly plots near roads and markets—is increasingly being converted into commercial buildings or housing. Others are shifting to high-density apple plantations, citing stagnant saffron prices over the past decade and more attractive returns from horticulture.
Despite the legal safeguards, residents allege weak enforcement by the revenue department. Available official data on saffron land is nearly 15 years old, showing an increase from 2,800 hectares in 2005 to about 3,715 hectares later—a figure that no longer reflects ground reality.
“Following the launch of the National Saffron Mission and projects like NAPT and NAIB, many farmers returned to saffron cultivation with renewed hope,” an official said. “But that confidence is fading again.”
While no fresh survey has been conducted, both farmers and officials agree that Pampore has lost a significant portion of its saffron land over the past decade and a half. Palatial houses and commercial structures now line roads cutting through what were once continuous saffron fields—a visible sign of an industry under pressure.
Growers and experts are calling for an urgent, comprehensive study and sustained government intervention before it is too late.
Without timely action, they warn, Kashmir risks losing not just a crop, but a centuries-old legacy that has shaped its culture, economy, and global identity.
Asem Mohiuddin is an Editor of The Legitimate
