Saffron cultivation expands in Ghazni

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): The trend of saffron cultivation in the capital and some districts of southern Ghazni province has increased as farmers cultivated more saffron this year compared to the past year, an official said on Tuesday.

Qari Mohammad Zakarya Hotak, head of the agriculture products promotion at the Agricultural Department, said since 2016, showcase pieces and cones of saffron have been distributed to farmers in many areas of the province.

He said that saffron cultivation gave good results in Ghazni City, the provincial capital, Khawaja Umari, Waez, Qarabagh, Gailan and Dehyak districts.

Hotak said last year saffron cultivated on 50 acres of land but this year the cultivation area was expanded to 150 acres.

He said: “This showed that farmers were more interested in the cultivation of saffron.”

The Agriculture Department official said this year, about 30 kilograms of saffron have been exported from this province to Pakistan and India, and more of the same quantity would be exported.

Efforts were being made to provide further assistance to farmers in saffron cultivation, in collaboration with aid organizations, he added

Mangal, one of the processor of saffron, said that Ghazni saffron were known for high quality inside and outside the country.

He said a proper investment and promotion of saffron could convert this agricultural product into an important exporting item.

Farmers were also happy about the surge in saffron production.

Mohammad Zubair, one of the farmers, said this he harvested good yield from his saffron and hoped for high income.

He said: “We have land, water, the cost of saffron is low and the yield is good. About two kilograms of saffron are obtained from one hectare of land, and the price of one kilogram of saffron is about 120,000 afs, we ask the government to cooperate with us in the cultivation, production, and processing of saffron.”

It is pertinent to mention that besides Ghazni farmers in some other provinces also interested in the cultivation of saffron.

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