Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Oct 21: In a remarkable achievement, Mudasir Ahmad Bhat, a 27-year-old resident of Heevan Narvaw in Baramulla district, has successfully grown saffron in his native area for the first time. Following positive results, he plans to expand his saffron cultivation.
As the only saffron grower in Narvaw, an area not traditionally known for this valuable crop, Mudasir has ventured into uncharted territory. “People here mostly cultivate paddy, maize and apples, but I wanted to experiment with different crops,” he explained.
Inspired by videos on saffron cultivation he saw last year, Mudasir said he reached out to a friend in Pampore for saffron corms. “However, my initial attempt yielded disappointing results due to inexperience,” he said.
This year, Bhat approached the endeavour with more care and expert consultation, which led to a much better outcome. “I have harvested saffron flowers at least seven times in the past few weeks,” he said.
Mudasir encourages farmers across Kashmir to consider growing saffron, even in small plots, to discover its benefits, which many are currently unaware of. His success has led several local farmers to express interest in cultivating saffron themselves next year.
“Many growers have started contacting me for guidance on saffron cultivation,” he said.
Mudasir’s successful trial has not only satisfied him but also inspired him to explore other crops. He believes that with the right support and technical assistance from officials, Narvaw has the potential to become a new hub for saffron production.
