Iran-Israel-US tensions, poor output push rates to Rs 350/gram
Srinagar, Jun 20: The crimson fields of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are once again drawing attention as prices of Kashmir’s famed saffron witness a sharp surge, driven by geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Saffron growers and traders say the two-month-long instability involving Iran, Israel and the United States has disrupted global saffron markets, pushing buyers towards Kashmiri saffron and triggering an unprecedented rise in prices.
President of the J&K Saffron Growers Association, Abdul Majeed Wani, told Rising Kashmir that the nearly two-month-long conflict in the Middle East has had a direct bearing on saffron prices.
“At present, one gram of Kashmiri saffron is being sold at nearly Rs 350, while last year the same quantity fetched only Rs 200 to Rs 220,” Wani said.
He said Iran, which dominates the global saffron market, significantly influences international pricing trends and any instability there immediately impacts saffron trade worldwide.
“The Iran-US-Israel tensions have definitely pushed prices upward, but another major reason is the decline in saffron production during 2025,” he said.
Official figures reveal that saffron production in Kashmir has witnessed a worrying decline over the years. While the Valley produced nearly 15 to 16 metric tonnes annually in the 1990s, production has drastically fallen in recent years due to erratic weather, declining rainfall, urbanisation and shrinking cultivation areas. Last year’s production was estimated at around 3.5 to 4 metric tonnes, leaving growers anxious about the future of the centuries-old crop.
Wani said the situation this year remains uncertain due to poor rainfall during the first half of 2026.
“There is already a rainfall deficit of nearly 42 per cent during the first five months of this year. It is still too early to comment on the crop, but if we receive good rainfall during the early weeks of September, the produce can improve. We are hopeful,” he said.
Another grower from Pampore, Ghulam Qadir Rather, said the sudden rise in prices has brought a sense of optimism among farmers after years of financial distress.
“For the last several years, growers have been suffering losses because yields kept falling while expenses increased. This price rise has given us some hope, but the weather remains the biggest concern,” Rather said. He said saffron cultivation in Kashmir is becoming increasingly difficult because of dry spells and changing climatic conditions.
“Earlier, rainfall and snowfall patterns were stable, but now seasons have become unpredictable. Saffron needs moisture at crucial stages, and prolonged dryness damages the crop badly,” he added.
Another farmer, Mohammad Shafi Dar from Khrew, said many cultivators had abandoned saffron farming in recent years because returns were too low.
“Some people shifted to other occupations because saffron farming was no longer profitable. But this increase in prices may encourage farmers to return to their fields,” Dar said.
He, however, warned that unless irrigation facilities and scientific support systems are strengthened, Kashmir’s saffron heritage could continue shrinking.
“We cannot depend only on rain anymore. If irrigation facilities are improved and growers receive proper support, saffron cultivation can revive again,” he said.
Experts believe Kashmiri saffron, globally known for its rich aroma, dark crimson colour and superior quality, continues to enjoy strong international demand despite falling production. However, farmers say climate change, rapid urbanisation in saffron-growing areas and declining groundwater levels remain major threats to the future of the Valley’s prized spice industry.
