Leh, November 1: Breaking a new ground in Ladakh’s high-altitude agricultural landscape, the experimental saffron cultivation project initiated by Lt. Governor Shri VK Saxena, on recently restored degraded land in Leh, has begun to blossom. The first bloom at the Saffron field came in a record-breaking 30 days, as against the two-month timeline typically required for the first bloom.
The LG today inspected the saffron field to witness the first bloom where he was informed that the cultivation site is currently averaging 20 to 25 blooming flowers daily, with a peak of 72 flowers blooming this morning alone. This rapid and robust growth has resulted in the successful collection of nearly 22 grams of pure saffron in just four days.
As an ambitious experiment, nearly 800 kg corms (90,000 nos.) of premium Iranian saffron were planted over nearly 4000 square meters of land, that was earlier barren and has been recently restored and rejuvenated, as part of Project Him Sarovar, under the guidance of LG, Shri Saxena. The plantation was done on October 1 and the first bloom has been reported in less than 30 days.
The initiative is guided by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of diversifying traditional agricultural practices for financial sustainability and economic empowerment of the farmers and the youth. Saffron plantation in Ladakh builds on the Administration’s successful experiment with high-value floriculture, particularly the massive cultivation of Lilium and Gladiolus in Leh, that has opened new employment and livelihood opportunities for farmers, Self-Help Groups and other local entrepreneurs.
“This remarkable achievement is a powerful testament to the resilience of the local environment and highlights the immense, untapped potential of high-altitude farming in the Ladakh region. The breakthrough of this pilot also project lays a promising foundation for future commercial-scale saffron production. It will open highly lucrative new avenues for crop cultivation and agro-based entrepreneurship in Ladakh, actively paving the way for a stronger, thriving, and self-reliant local economy,” LG Shri Saxena said.
Notably, saffron is a high-value crop with strong market demand and commands a premium price, offering the potential to provide farmers with an additional and remunerative source of income. Jammu and Kashmir is the primary region for saffron cultivation in India, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of the country’s total production. Its introduction in Ladakh is, therefore, being undertaken as a pilot, to assess its suitability to the region’s climatic conditions and explore its economic potential.
The LG also appreciated the officials of the Agriculture Department of UT Ladakh and the dedicated field staff for their significant contributions, expertise, and commitment in ensuing the overwhelming success of this pioneering pilot project.
