Kashmiri saffron valuable like gold: What explains over Rs 2 lakh/kg price of kesar? Watch video – Times of India

Saffron is said to be the world’s costliest spice by weight at over Rs 2 lakh to a kg. Did you know that India, in particular Jammu & Kashmir, is the second largest producer of saffron or kesar in the world? Saffron has been an integral part of our culture, food, medicine, beauty, worship and is valued even by the rich.

So what makes saffron so expensive? Why is Jammu & Kashmir’s saffron so special and what intensive efforts are being made to increase its production? In this week’s episode of TOI Business Bytes, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director Agriculture, Kashmir gives us some interesting insights into the fascinating world of this special flower produce.

Watch the video above to know why the Kashmir saffron is considered to be the best in the world, and the unique climatic conditions that are required for the cultivation of kesar. Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal also explains how the National Saffron Mission has helped increase the per hectare yield of saffron.
In 2020-21, Kashmir’s saffron was accorded the GI (Geographical Indication) tag and since then the prices of India’s kesar have skyrocketed. Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal talks about the benefits of GI tag and how the prices of saffron have doubled.
The saffron flower is also very beautiful, and the saffron farms make for a big tourist attraction in October, says Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal.
Watch the video to understand how the government has set up an international standard lab for farmers to process their saffron produce, and the steps that are being taken to encourage them to register on the e-NAM portal for selling saffron.
Finally, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal lists out over 60 countries that India is looking to export saffron to, a new export policy that is in works and how multinational corporations have been buying Kashmir saffron.