• Menu
  • Menu
  • News
  • Subscribe
  • Logout
Trending
UAE holidays 2021 Coronavirus Special Reports Now talk to your writer to create your CV Travel
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
      • Young Editors
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health
      • Better Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Reader Complaint
    • Ask the Law
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
  • Gulf
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Company Releases
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
    • Mena
    • Europe
      • Brexit
    • Africa
    • Americas
      • US Presidential Elections 2020
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Court and Crime
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • Cartoons
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • ICC
    • Football
    • Motorsport
    • Tennis
      • Dubai Duty Free Tennis 2020
    • Golf
    • Rugby
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • Pinoy Celebs
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Going Out
    • Movie Reviews
    • Society
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
      • Beating Breast Cancer
    • Family
    • Community
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • #Pinoy
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Weekend Review
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
      • Gitex Shopper
    • Gaming
    • Trends
    • Fin-Tech
    • Media
  • How To
    • Employment
      • Jobs
    • Passports & Visas
    • Your Money
    • Legal
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • #Pinoy
    • Community
    • Travel
    • Technology
  • GN Focus
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Hotels
  • Gold-Forex
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    Photos: Climate change ravages Kashmir's 'red gold' saffron crop

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Thursday, January 21, 2021
    Gold / Forex

    Photos News

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    Photos: Climate change ravages Kashmir's 'red gold' saffron crop

    It takes around 160,000 flowers to yield one kilogram of the precious spice


    Published:  December 23, 2020 12:53 AFP  and  Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor

    1 of 12
    Copy of 236509-01-02-1608713163031
    On sweeping fields once blanketed in lush purple, a thin and bedraggled crop of flowers is all farmers in Indian-administered Kashmir's saffron-growing region Pampore have to show for this year's harvest. Image Credit: AFP
    2 of 12
    Copy of 236510-01-02-1608713147809
    Dry conditions blamed on climate change have seen yields of the world's most expensive spice halved in the past two decades, threatening the future of a cash crop that has brought wealth to the region for 2,500 years. Image Credit: AFP
    3 of 12
    Copy of 236491-01-02-1608713167909
    "These fields used to be like goldmines," said Abdul Ahad Mir in Pampore, just south of Indian-administered Kashmir's main city Srinagar. Image Credit: AFP
    4 of 12
    Copy of 236499-01-02-1608713180854
    Saffron has long thrived there, and Mir's family was reared in the delicate work of plucking the lucrative but tiny crimson threads from purple crocus flowers. Image Credit: AFP
    5 of 12
    Copy of 236506-01-02-1608713142271
    Warming temperatures caused by climate change have made rainfall erratic, depleting the thirsty saffron fields of water. Image Credit: AFP
    6 of 12
    Copy of 236512-01-02-1608713152959
    It takes around 160,000 flowers to yield one kilogram of the precious spice, which will sell for around $1,350 in local markets. Image Credit: AFP
    7 of 12
    Copy of 236511-01-02-1608713150212
    But official figures show that harvests of the so-called "red gold" were just 1.4 kilograms per hectare in 2018 - half the figure recorded in 1998. Image Credit: AFP
    8 of 12
    Copy of 236502-01-02-1608713165775
    The harvest season - which lasts for just two weeks at the end of autumn - has also been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. Image Credit: AFP
    9 of 12
    Copy of 236504-01-02-1608713139520
    Historians say saffron has been cultivated in Kashmir since at least 500 BC. Image Credit: AFP
    10 of 12
    Copy of 236493-01-02-1608713170397
    Locally the spice is added to traditional dishes and used as an ingredient in Kehwa, a sweet drink served during special occasions such as marriages. Image Credit: AFP
    11 of 12
    Copy of 236494-01-02-1608713173016
    Elsewhere in the world, it is prized for its use in cooking and cosmetics and can fetch prices of more than $10,000 per kilogram on the international market. Image Credit: AFP
    12 of 12
    Copy of 236495-01-02-1608713175514
    Nearly 90 percent of the world's saffron is grown in Iran, but experts consider Kashmir's crop to be superior for its deep red colour and distinct aroma. Image Credit: AFP

    Trending

    • A day in the life of DHA’s COVID -19 vaccination centre

      A day in the life of DHA’s COVID -19 vaccination centre


    • In photos: UAE rolls out free vaccination drive

      In photos: UAE rolls out free vaccination drive


    • See Sheikh Hamdan's spectacular photos of a foggy Dubai

      See Sheikh Hamdan's spectacular photos of a foggy Dubai


    • Readers' photos: Fog in UAE

      Readers' photos: Fog in UAE

    Latest In

    • COVID-19 decimates Saudi domestic worker recruitment

      11 minutes ago

    • 'Democracy has prevailed': President Biden gets to work

      55 minutes ago

    • Tough penalties for Saudi hunting rule violators

      1 hour ago

    • GCC chief welcomes Joe Biden inauguration

      1 hour ago

    • 700 Saudi doctors left in lurch over unpaid salaries

      1 hour ago

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Baby & Child
    • Friday
    • Inside Out
    • Watch Time
    • Wheels
    • getthat
    • GN Tech
    • Jobs
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or