Abdul Majeed Wani, a seasoned farmer from Shaar-i-Shalli village in Pampore town in South Kashmir, knows the art of preserving saffron corms (saffron bulbs). He is saving them for his next cycle of indoor saffron farming. The delicate saffron bulbs give rise to the fall-flowering purple Crocus sativus, which yields the world's most expensive spice, saffron, known as "red gold" for its value.
With traditional saffron farming facing challenges like erratic weather and low yields, the indoor cultivation techniques offer higher productivity, reduced labour and control over environmental conditions, presenting a viable solution to revive saffron farming in Kashmir.
Unlike many crops that propagate through seeds, saffron, locally known as koung reproduces via corms, requiring careful management for continuity. Saffron farmers plant the smaller (less than six grams) corms, and these multiply inside the soil, leading to the production of more corms, including bigger ones that are eventually used for saffron production. Saffron cultivation demands specific conditions, such as controlled climates and precise timing for harvest.
Walking through the densely sown planting material on his land, Wani explained, "These saffron corms are presently in a vegetative phase (characterised by growth of leaves) and, if properly nurtured, are a key component in the indoor saffron farming techniques."
Read more at mongabay.com