Amid shrinking farmland and declining yields, saffron growers in Kashmir are hoping that adequate rainfall in August will improve the quality and output of the prized spice this season.
Farmers said the rainfall has provided much-needed moisture to the soil, creating favourable conditions for saffron corms, the underground structures from which the plant grows.
“August rains have provided much-needed moisture to the soil,” said Abdul Majeed, a saffron farmer from Pampore.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data for June 1 to August 26, several districts in Kashmir recorded rainfall well above their normal levels.
Baramulla recorded the highest surplus, receiving 269.7 mm of rainfall against a normal of 163.9 mm, marking a 65 per cent excess. Pulwama received 235.2 mm, 56 per cent above normal, while Ganderbal recorded 299.8 mm, a 50 per cent surplus.
Srinagar also recorded above-normal rainfall at 226.5 mm against a normal of 186.2 mm, marking a 22 per cent surplus. Anantnag received 276.9 mm against a normal of 243.8 mm, registering a 14 per cent excess, while Bandipora recorded a similar 14 per cent surplus, with 192.2 mm against 168.2 mm.
Farmers, however, said rainfall in September would be particularly important for vegetative growth and nutrient uptake.
“September rainfall is more crucial for vegetative growth and nutrient uptake,” said Ali Mohammad, another saffron farmer.
He said growers were hoping for better quality and a stronger harvest after a poor season last year.
“Last year, production was merely 10 per cent,” a group of farmers said.
Saffron growers in Kashmir have struggled in recent years with a combination of erratic weather, changing rainfall patterns, rising cultivation costs and shrinking areas under cultivation.
The crop is particularly sensitive to weather conditions, with moisture availability at different stages playing an important role in corm development and subsequent flowering.
Official data points to a steep decline in saffron cultivation across Kashmir over the past two decades, adding pressure on farmers and threatening the traditional crop’s production base.
From an estimated 5,700 hectares in the late 1990s, the total area under saffron cultivation has declined to 3,665 hectares in 2025.
Pampore, popularly known as the saffron town of Kashmir, remains at the centre of the region’s saffron economy. The crop is grown primarily in parts of Pulwama and neighbouring areas, supporting thousands of farming families.
Farmers said adequate rainfall alone cannot reverse the challenges facing the industry. They called for greater support to maintain saffron fields, improve irrigation and protect agricultural land from conversion.
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