Saffron is considered as a major source of income and good alternative of poppy in the country. The cultivation and production of saffron creates numerous job opportunities, especially for women, who perform 80 percent of the processing.
In recent years, this profitable plant first became popular in Herat province and later in several other southwestern provinces of the country. According to the officials for the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Balkh, Herat, Kunduz, Farah and Daikundi provinces have produced the most saffron in recent years. A spokesperson of the ministry says that the construction of 407 saffron farms, the training of 840 women for processing saffron, the training of 1,888 men, holding of 20 training programs for saffron farmers in the field, the construction of the building of the Saffron Research Institute in Herat province, worth nearly 30 million AFG, and distribution of 185,000 saffron onions are the works that have been followed to increase the yield of saffron in the country. It is worth mentioning that saffron, which is known as red gold, has good results in Afghanistan and can be a good alternative to poppy cultivation as farmers can get good results by using appropriate methods. According to the ministry of agriculture, irrigation and livestock, the yield of saffron has reached to 21 tons in recent years.
If the Islamic Emirate particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock help farmers and the landowners engaged in cultivation of saffron in finding market to sell their products in good price, this plant will get good results and the people and the world will be freed from the evil phenomenon of narcotics.
The ministry of agriculture, irrigation and livestock is planning to launch several programs to raise the awareness level of farmers for saffron cultivation.
Besides, MAIL intends to make saffron cultivation common and expand it to other parts of Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s saffron is top in the world markets. The IEA is urged not to let Afghanistan saffron be sold with the name of neighboring countries in world market.
It is worth mentioning that consumers use saffron for medicine, in foodstuff and cooking, and as a remedy for many ailments. Currently, the price of a kilogram of Afghanistan’s saffron in the global markets is around $2,000.
Mohammad Daud
Unprecedented increase in Afghan saffron yield
