Untimely snowfall has badly damaged the saffron crop in the north Indian state of Kashmir.
Footage filmed near Srinagar on November 14 shows saffron pickers recovering damaged flowers from fields hit by the damaging snows.
Saffron production from the region reportedly was at least two tons in 2018, with projections from the Agriculture Department suggesting that up to seven tons would be produced this year.
However, Saffron Growers Association President Abdul Majeed Wani commented: “Almost 30 percent of saffron production has been damaged by the snow. There will now be less than 5 tons of saffron production,”
A number of other factors have contributed to the damaged crops in addition to the snowfall, including neglect of rural infrastructure and disruption caused by increased restrictions on travel implemented by the government.
