Afghanistan plans to triple saffron production

Almaty. June16. Silkroadnews – Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announced implementation of a five-year plan to support the cultivation of saffron, Afghan news agency (AfTAG) reported.

A major objective of the five-year plan is to increase the country’s production of saffron three times at least.

The saffron production is planned to increase from 3.5 to 14 tons per year and the production income is planned to rise from $4.5 million to $200 million. At the meeting of Afghanistan’s Supreme Economic Council at which the plan was approved, President Ashraf Ghani has ordered to establish a special committee to support the production of saffron and search for the international sales markets.

AfTAG informs, in 2015 the saffron was grown in 22 provinces of Afghanistan. According to the preliminary estimates, the country could produce up to 70 tons of expensive spice in a year.

For the past few years the experts recognized the Afghan saffron as the best in the world. The point is the climate of some areas of Afghanistan is perfect for this spice cultivation. Besides, crocuses which stamens are collected to produce saffron, bloom in early spring and require no watering during the summer.

Currently 90% of saffron is produced by Iran, for 2013-2014 the yield of this crop amounted to 239 tons. Saffron is grown in Iran for more than three thousand years. The country hopes that after the international sanctions removal saffron will become one of the main national export products along with Persian carpets, pistachios and oil.