date:Aug 28, 2014
ectares in 1996 to just 3875 hectares in 2010-11 bringing down the production from 3.13 kg/hectares to 2.47 kg/hectares in the last few years.
Large numbers of saffron fields have become senile on account of low plant population and it is said that the major biotic stress faced by saffron for several years is corm rot fungal infection, Mr Singh adds.
Farmers in Kashmir are using traditional methods of processing i.e. after plucking of flowers, the stigmas are separated by family labour and sun