Saffron Farming Information Guide For Beginners// How To Farming of Saffron.

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and it is derived from the dry stigmata of the plant "Crocus Sativus". Saffron is popularly known as "Red Gold". Saffron can be grown anywhere in the world and growing it is however very simple and accessible to anyone. Generally, Saffron price depends on the intense labour needed to harvest the crop, not because it is difficult to grow. Saffron plant is a bulbous, perennial with globular corms, having 15 to 20 cm height This plant is native to Europe and grown in Mediterranean countries like Spain, Austria, France, Greece, England, Iran and Turkey. In India, Saffron is mainly cultivated in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Saffrorn belongs to the family of "Iridaceae" and commercial part of saffron is Stigma.

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Saffron is being used in culinary as well as medicines Saffron is mainly used in culinary seasoning and to get colour, cottage cheese, Biryani's, meats, liquors, cordials, cakes, confectioneries, breads and Mughlai dishes Saffron is used commercially in perfumes and cosmetics.

When it comes to medicinal use, Saffron is used in fevers, Ayurvedic treatment to heal arthritis, impotence and infertility.

People believe that women taking the saffron (Kesar) along with milk during the pregnancy will result in good colour of baby to be born.

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Kesar (Hindi) Kong (Kashmiri), Jafran (Bengali), Keshar, Kesara (Marathi), Keshar, Kumnkuma Kesari (Kannada), Kumkuma Puvvu (Telugu), Kungumapoo (Tamil) Kunkumapoove (Malayalam), Kesar, Zafran (Punjabi), Zafran (Urdu), Keshara, Kunkuma, Asrika.

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In Saffron Farming, the kind of soil is more important than the climate of the area where it is intended to be grown. Saffron thrives best in warm sub-tropical climate and can be grown at 2000 meters of mean sea level. An optimum period of 12 hours sun light is desirable. Low temperature coupled with high humidity during flowering season affects flowering of the Saffron crop and spring rains boost the production of new corms. When it comes to soil, Saffron grows well in acidic to neutral, gravelly, loamy and sandy soils. It requires well-drained soils and the optimum soil pH for Saffron Farming is PH 6 to 8 and heavy clay soils must be avoided as these soils are not suitable.

Propagation is done through corms (compressed underground stems).

Land Preparation, Spacing and Planting in

 Land should be made weed free and enriched with organic matter. It requires couple of ploughings for bringing the soil to the fine tilth stage and soil loosening is required before planting the corms for better growth. The best planting season for saffron is from June to September and flowering starts in October from the year it is planted Generally, winter will be the vegetative growth season and leaves will be dried out in the month of May. Saffron corms can be planted directly in the main field or in pots. Corms should be planted at 12 to 15 cm deep by maintaining 10 to 12 cm spacing between them. Irrigation is not needed, however in case of prolonged drought and hot season it can be carried out depending on the soil moisture content. Generally, Saffron corms multiply from one year to the next and 1 corm get 5 corms after 3 years of planting.

Mulching will control the weed growth to some extent Plants should be mulched with saw dust. Weedicides can used to check the complete weeds in saffron field.

Fertilizers in Saffron Farming:- Farmers should apply about 35 tonnes of well decomposed farm yard manure in the field before planting. Annual fertiliser application of 20 kg 'N', 30 kg K' and 80 kg 'P' per ha is beneficial in autumn and again immediately after flowering.

Pests and Diseases in Saffron Farming:- There are three main diseases Fusarium, Rhizoctonia crocorum and Violet root rot found in the saffron Farming. For control measures, contact local horticulture department. It is recommended that the same field should not be used again for 8 to 10 years. Rabbits love the saffron leaves and one should have a secured fence to protect the crop from predators.

In Saffron Farming, flowering starts in the month of October and last for a month. Harvesting should be carried when the flowers are in full bloom stage and early morning picking is proffered. After harvesting the flowers, extract the red pistils from the flowers.

Drying of filaments can be done by putting the pistils on a sieve in a well ventilated place between 45°C to 60°C for 15 minutes (well ventilated food dryer, in an oven with the door slightly open, under the sun outside). Generally, fresh saffron does not have any taste and it is recommended that dried Saffron should be placed in an airtight container away from the light for at least 1 month before it's consumption.

Generally, 150 to 160 Saffron flowers are needed to make 1 gram of dried saffron. Usually, during 1st year of plantation , 60 to 65 % of corms will produce 1 flower each and in subsequent years, each corm will produce about 2 flowers.