As Kashmir’s saffron has got the long-overdue geographical indication (GI) tag, stakeholders are upbeat that it is going to benefit the trade and boost its export value.

“It is a moment of pride for us. The GI tag is greatly going to benefit the saffron trade of Kashmir. It is definitely going to fetch us a better price for the produce in the market,” said Director, Agriculture, Kashmir, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi.

He said the moment Kashmir saffron got the GI tag, its price had jumped from Rs 1.4 lakh to 2.10 lakh per kg.

Andrabi said around 32,000 growers associated with the saffron cultivation, harvest and trade were registered with Spice Park.

“Each of them would now be given GI tag codes for their produce which would authenticate every gram of Kashmir saffron,” he said, adding that the GI tagging is expected to bring in “price stability” and introduce the “traceability concept”.

With the GI tag, Kashmir saffron is also expected to gain more prominence in the export market. People associated with the trade, however, have some worries.

“I am happy that Kashmir saffron has got the GI tag, but the authorities should also pay attention to the conversion of saffron land for non-agricultural purposes,” said Ghulam Qadir Mir, a saffron grower from Pampore.

High-value spice

Kashmir saffron, cultivated in the karewa (highlands) of Pampore in south Kashmir, has been given the geographical indication tag by the Geographical Indications Registry after approving the application by the J&K Directorate of Agriculture in coordination with the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, and the Saffron Research Station, Dussu (Pampore).

This news has not been edited by Apni Kheti staff but has been published by various news feeds

Source: The Tribune