SAFFRON or KONG (
Kashmiri ) or KESAR , the most expensive crop, comes mostly
from Pampore Uplands ( Wudar ) in kashmir valley . Yes
from Pampore, a town otherwise also known world over as the birth place of kashmir’s greatest saint
poetess Laleshwari or Lal Ded. In fact more than ninety percent saffron grown in the Kashmir
comes from this area. But with
traditional farming methods , poor irrigation facilities and lack of post
harvest management , the yield per
Hectare has come down from 3.13 Kgs to
2.50 Kgs. The area under cultivation has also shrunk from 5700 Hectares to 3800
Hectares . Is the centuries old Kashmir
Saffron under threat ?
Not so at the moment
but surely if we do not read the writing on the wall the area under cultivation
and production per hectare may further dwindle . We need to strive
for creation of Irrigation facilities through tube wells and sprinklers
which would ultimately increase the
production. Immediate restriction needs
to be put on construction activities in and around cultivable area also
.
Stigmas of the saffron flower are plucked and dried to produce
saffron. Plantation is done through
bulbs .The flowering season of this crop is early November in Kashmir. It is a
real visual treat to see these blooming plants in moonlit night
in early or mid November . A
saffron flower has three long dark red
thread with yellowish tails . The red portion is the pure saffron
called Mongra ( also known as nevel in
kashmiri ) while saffron with yellowish tail portion also is also sold as lachha saffron. So next time
should you buy saffron , ask for Mongra which is pure and first grade in
aromatic value . Other varieties /
grades of saffron from Kashmir are known as Zarda and Patti . So is fake saffron being
sold to ignorant buyers .
Saffron is also cultivated in Iran , Greece , Spain and
china and many central Asian countries . In India it is mostly used as a
colouring agent , for religious functions , as a medicine and in
cuisines. I end this post with some lines from A poem of Dina Nath Naadim….
Yivaan yeli Sounth Teli Iayee Poashee Faaeithh Hyaethh
Harud Yithh Koang wudur Pyaeth Zoon Raathhaa
Subahuss Sangar Phoalaan Doadh Koall Wuzaan Zun
Taa Shaamuss Yaavnus Voshlaan Chhe Hunn Hunn
Vanduss Sheenuss andher Pashmeena Butraathh
Taa Reitkaaluss Andher Reesham chhu Vahrithh..
( Dina Nath Naadim )
The spring arrives in this land ,
Bringing Bountiful flowers .
And the Autumn season of this land;
Like a moonlit night on a Plateau
Amidst saffron blooms.
Behold ! The mountain peaks shining in morning sun
And the milky white streams playfully coming down there
from.
And the Evening time is just
The plentiful blush of its youth.
In winters ,
the snow spreading its Pashmina cloth all over .
And the summer putting a cover of silk apparel
over this land…
(Photo and Text and translation of Naadim sahib’s
poetry by Autar Mota )
New Delhi ( In Travel ) on 18th October 2012 …Time 10.00 PM ..... Good Night )
CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.
