Saffron growers face wrath of dry spell in Kashmir Valley

Months long dry spell in Kashmir has hit saffron production in the Kashmir Valley, leaving growers worried. In a good season, saffron growers harvest two to three batches of the purple flowers. However, this year, the soil moisture levels are really low. The highly prized spice saffron, which is cultivated on the high plateau land on the outskirts of the Srinagar, has been badly hit due to three to four months long dry spell. The first harvest of the crop, which is usually around mid-October, has not yielded satisfactory returns to farmers, which are around 20 percent of the total produce. Saffron is one of the world's most expensive spices. The delicate flowers are harvested in autumn. The flowers begin to grow after the first rains and the blooming period is usually mid-October when the temperature is just right.