Srinagar, March 26, 2025- The Indian government has declared the National Mission on Saffron a success in stabilising the saffron industry, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, according to a statement made in the Legislative Assembly on March 25, 2025. Launched in 2010-11 with a budget of Rs 400.11 crore, the mission has utilized Rs 258.67 crore to rejuvenate saffron cultivation, halting a decades-long decline and enhancing productivity and farmer livelihoods.
Officials report that the area under saffron cultivation has stabilised at 3,715 hectares—3,665 hectares in Kashmir and 50 hectares in Kishtwar—since the mission’s inception. Productivity in rejuvenated fields has surged from 2.50 kg per hectare in 2009-10 to 4.42 kg per hectare in 2022-23, peaking at 5.14 kg per hectare in 2020-21. The government credits interventions like scientific drying methods and the establishment of the Rs 37.81-crore Saffron Park/India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Center in Dussu Pampore for these gains. The facility has improved stigma recovery and quality, driving farmer incomes up, with saffron prices rising from Rs 80,000 per kg to Rs 2,20,000 per kg in 2021-22.
“The mission has addressed low yields, high costs, and environmental challenges, paving the way for increased exports and economic stability for saffron growers,” an official stated. Over 2,573 hectares of saffron land have been revitalized across key districts like Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, and Kishtwar.
However, production has dipped from 17.33 metric tonnes in 2021 to 14.94 metric tonnes in 2023, sparking concerns among farmers about sustainability. Issues like non-functional irrigation bore-wells persist, though the government emphasizes long-term benefits and ongoing support. The mission’s success, officials say, positions saffron as a global export leader while uplifting rural communities in the region.