A dry September tests Kashmir’s saffron fields

Kashmir’s saffron growers are facing mounting challenges ahead of the crucial flowering season, which typically begins in October. The region has recorded daytime temperatures 2 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal, while rainfall remains a primary concern. A strengthening El Niño, combined with the seasonal withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, is driving dry weather and a spike in daytime temperatures across the valley, according to Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Srinagar.

September represents a critical juncture in the saffron cultivation cycle. During this month, corms — the underground storage organs of the saffron plant — begin to sprout following their summer dormancy. Soil moisture and temperature during this precise window heavily dictate corm sprouting and subsequent flower development. Excessive heat and prolonged dry spells can severely impact the crop before flowers even emerge.

Irshad Ahmad, a saffron farmer from Pampore, noted that rainfall is vital at this stage for the vegetative growth and development of the corms. He explained that erratic weather patterns in recent years have already hit yields hard, and farmers are anxiously awaiting rain to provide the necessary moisture. Without adequate water during this sprouting phase, the upcoming harvest prospects remain highly uncertain.

A major systemic vulnerability is that saffron farming in Kashmir is predominantly rain-fed. To mitigate this, the National Saffron Mission (NSM) was launched in 2010-11 with an initial outlay of ₹400.11 crore, aiming to introduce robust irrigation facilities like drip systems. However, farmers report that the irrigation component has largely failed on the ground, with many systems remaining defunct, uncompleted, or lacking a reliable water supply source.

As a result, growers continue to bear the brunt of dry spells without supplementary irrigation options. With meteorological forecasts pointing to a continuation of warm and dry conditions for several more days, the resilience of Kashmir’s renowned saffron fields is undergoing a severe test this season.