Most of India’s population relies on agriculture for their livelihood. Many families depend on farming for survival. Agriculture is not just a means of subsistence, but many farmers also earn good profits from it. Some farmers cultivate using traditional methods, while others adopt new techniques to grow various types of crops.

Some farmers even cultivate special types of crops that yield substantial income. These are very expensive. This includes various types of spices. These types of spices are found in specific parts of the country. Saffron is one such spice, which many people in the country are currently cultivating. If we talk about the price of saffron, you will surely be surprised. Saffron costs approximately ₹5 lakh per kilogram. Let’s now look at how you can cultivate this saffron.

Essentials for Saffron Cultivation

1. Among spices, saffron is considered a type of “gold.” Its cultivation requires a cold climate and dry weather. In terms of temperature, it should be around 17 degrees Celsius. In India, saffron is primarily cultivated in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. However, saffron cultivation has now also started in Haryana and Uttarakhand.
2. Loamy soil is considered most suitable for saffron cultivation. The pH level of this soil should be between 6 and 8. The special thing is that saffron is not grown from seeds, but from bulbs, i.e., corms.
3. Planting saffron corms (bulbs) during July to August is considered appropriate. It is suitable to plant corms 10 to 15 cm apart from each other and about 10 cm deep in the soil.
4. The most important thing among these is not to let too much water enter the corms, as this can cause the corms to rot and spoil. Irrigation should be done as needed.

How to Preserve Saffron

Saffron flowers begin to bloom in October to November. Each flower contains three red saffron threads (fibers). These flowers are picked very early in the morning, and the saffron threads are separated from them. Afterwards, these threads are thoroughly dried in the shade and then safely stored in airtight containers.

If you cultivate saffron on one acre of land, your approximate cost could be ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000. If you cultivate it properly and with correct supervision, it is possible to produce about 1 to 1.5 kg of saffron from one acre.

In terms of market value, the price of saffron is approximately ₹5 lakh per kg. This means you can easily earn ₹5 to ₹7 lakh.

Many Indian farmers practice traditional farming, but some opt for crops that are rare and expensive. One of these is saffron! This spice is so valuable that its price can reach up to ₹5 lakh per kilogram. In cold and dry climates, especially in loamy soil, saffron corms are planted in July-August. Flowers bloom in October-November, yielding three precious saffron threads. If cultivated correctly, one acre of land can yield 1 to 1.5 kg of saffron, generating an income of ₹5 to ₹7 lakh. Saffron cultivation is truly a profitable and hidden opportunity!