Saffron yield ‘reaches 21 tons’ in Afghanistan

KABUL (Khaama Press): Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock announced on Tuesday that the red-gold saffron harvest has topped to more than 21 tons this year. Ministry’s spokesman Akbar Rustam said, during the year 1399 about 7,900 hectares of land was cultivated with saffron of which 7,317 hectares of land was planted with saffron in Herat province only.

According to the ministry weather and natural conditions in Herat are in favor of Crocus Sativus, (the flower that produces saffron), as demands grew higher farmers started growing saffron across the country, the Ministry of Agriculture and livestock added. Agricultural experts are working to improve saffron yields by enhancing it, and that this solar year the ministry focused on the distribution of farming equipment to farmers in saffron sectors, and established farms to promote saffron harvest, ministry’s spokesman elaborated and added that the ministry is planning to continue its efforts on further developing saffron sectors in the country. Herat, Balkh, Faryab, Kunduz, Farah, and Daikundi have now been titled the top saffron-producing provinces in Afghanistan.