https://sputniknews.in/20231126/revolution-in-production---saffron-to-be-cultivated-in-indias-desert-land-5564199.html
Revolution in Production - Saffron to Be Cultivated in India's Desert Land
Revolution in Production - Saffron to Be Cultivated in India's Desert Land
Sputnik India
The researchers wish to create an academic course to train people from across the country and world at their Swavlamban Kendra (centre), located in Gandhi Vidya Mandir, a decades old NGO.
2023-11-26T18:58+0530
2023-11-26T18:58+0530
2023-11-26T18:58+0530
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A group of researchers in India’s Rajasthan state is attempting to revolutionize local saffron farming by growing it in warmer and dryer lands.Despite traditionally needing extreme cold conditions to cultivate, people are increasingly growing saffron in the state famous for its deserts and high temperatures. However, researchers in the Churu district are now attempting to take the spice to general households, promoting its cultivation in Sardarshahar city, where winters can reach -2 degrees Celsius and summers 52 degrees.Sputnik India talked to Himanshu Dugar, the chairman of Gandhi Vidya Mandir, an NGO founded in 1950 in the Thar desert where it has a 1,200-acre campus.In the desert, it operates an Ayurveda medical college, IASE deemed university, agricultural research center, Prannath hospital, orphanage, skill development centre, and a Swavlamban Kendra (self-reliance centre).The saffron cultivation project is being carried out by the Swavlamban Centre under the leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Devendra Mohan, Dugar stated.Producing Saffron in Unthinkable Weather ConditionsDugar explained that the Churu district has one of the harshest climates in the country, with saline water and desert soil with low productivity.Saffron Farming – A Boon for Farmers in IndiaHe also highlighted that the Indian government wants to double farmer's income, and that saffron may help provide this economic boost.“We are trying to diversify the crops of farmers who grow low remunerative crops. This crop will multiply in the times to come, and saffron will boost farmers' income," he said.“We hope in years to come that every family consumes at least 1 gram of saffron every year,” he stated, highlighting that saffron carries tremendous health benefits and should be consumed by every family. “Its consumption is particularly beneficial to children and elderly.”Highlighting that saffron is particularly useful for people living in cold climates, the Gandhi Vidya Mandir chairman stated: "We strongly recommend that countries like Russia should also grow it so that our Russian brothers and sisters can consume it."
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Revolution in Production - Saffron to Be Cultivated in India's Desert Land
Researchers are looking to train people from across the country in how to grow the expensive spice outside its traditional cold-climate spots.
A group of researchers in India’s Rajasthan state is attempting to revolutionize local saffron farming by growing it in warmer and dryer lands.
Despite traditionally needing extreme cold conditions to cultivate, people are increasingly growing saffron in the state famous for its deserts and high temperatures.
Popularly known as 'Red Gold' for its $3,600-per-kilo prices, saffron is mostly cultivated in the mountainous Jammu and Kashmir region and Himachal Pradesh state. The Indian natural medicine system ‘Ayurveda’ considers saffron an immensely beneficial herb for children and the elderly, especially for mental health.
However,
researchers in the Churu district are now attempting to take the spice to general households, promoting its cultivation in Sardarshahar city, where winters can reach -2 degrees Celsius and summers 52 degrees.
Sputnik India talked to Himanshu Dugar, the chairman of Gandhi Vidya Mandir, an NGO founded in 1950 in the Thar desert where it has a 1,200-acre campus.
In the desert, it operates an Ayurveda medical college, IASE deemed university, agricultural research center, Prannath hospital, orphanage, skill development centre, and a Swavlamban Kendra (self-reliance centre).
The saffron cultivation project is being carried out by the Swavlamban Centre under the leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Devendra Mohan, Dugar stated.
“We are also trying to establish the values suggesting that education should be imparted as a boon, rather than as a commercial trade," he explained.
Producing Saffron in Unthinkable Weather Conditions
Dugar explained that the Churu district has one of the harshest climates in the country, with saline water and desert soil with low productivity.
“We are trying to use the low winter temperature to grow crops which require a cold climate. The winter climate is good for growing saffron (Kesar). Soil samples of Kashmir’s Pampore town were collected and a special organic fertilizer was prepared to make the desert soil suitable for saffron. The development of this Organic fertilizer took over two years."
Saffron Farming – A Boon for Farmers in India
He also highlighted that the Indian government wants to
double farmer's income, and that saffron may help provide this economic boost.
“We are trying to diversify the crops of farmers who grow low remunerative crops. This crop will multiply in the times to come, and saffron will boost farmers' income," he said.
Stating that India is also the fourth-largest importer of saffron, he underlined that an increase in the area under saffron cultivation could be helpful for the nation to become self-reliant and maybe even export it.
“We hope in years to come that every family consumes at least 1 gram of saffron every year,” he stated, highlighting that saffron carries tremendous health benefits and should be consumed by every family. “Its consumption is particularly beneficial to children and elderly.”
Highlighting that saffron is particularly useful for people living in cold climates, the Gandhi Vidya Mandir chairman stated: "We strongly recommend that countries like Russia should also grow it so that our Russian brothers and sisters can consume it." 
