Monday, August 15, 2011 – Officials in Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) on Sunday said, based on a new program, the ministry is struggling to implement the cultivation of saffron in fifteen provinces in the country.
Meanwhile, the officials further added, necessary measures have been taken to find markets for the Afghan saffron.
Officials in Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) also said, based on a widespread program, saffron will be cultivated in a number of provinces of Afghanistan on an exploratory basis, to encourage farmers to grow saffron.
The officials further added, Marketing for saffron, providing the ground for saffron grower to compete in markets and technical assistance to farmers are part of the programme that will be implemented by Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) this year.
According to reports, currently 1 kg of saffron is sold at around $3,000 in world markets.
Head of Promotion Department in Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), Hokem Khan said, “We are not only focusing on density of saffron cultivation and production, but we are also focusing to increase the quality of saffron so that we could get it sold in world markets at a higher price.”
According to officials in Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), farmers last year harvested around one ton of saffron and after implementation of the promotion project of the MAIL, saffron production would even boost.
Saffron is cultivated once in a year and it needs to be irrigated twice a year and each acre of land produces one to three kilograms in a year.
Are any jobs opening in the production of saffron? I have produced wheat, corn, sorghum, alfalfa, cotton and vegetables. I would entertain discussion along the production line. Thank you.