Islamabad: Agriculture officials in Swat have announced plans to trial the cultivation of saffron in lower Swat and Kalam to assess its feasibility and determine the necessary adjustments to production techniques.
This initiative is part of a larger project aimed at introducing and promoting saffron in potential districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The announcement was made during a two-day training workshop on saffron cultivation and management, held at the Agriculture Research Institute (ARI) in Swat.
The workshop was organized under the project titled ‘Introduction and Promotion of Saffron in Potential Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,’ with participation from farmers across Swat.
Adnan Ahmad, the research officer at ARI and focal person for the saffron project, emphasized that the initiative aims to identify suitable agro-climatic zones in the province for saffron cultivation.
He explained that the project involves conducting training sessions in various districts, with the first held in Mansehra, the second in Swat, and the third planned for Karak.
Saffron cultivation requires specific environmental conditions, such as dry, temperate climates with minimal monsoon rainfall.
Despite Swat’s relatively moist climate, trial cultivation will proceed to evaluate its viability and potential for adaptation.
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Local farmers, enthusiastic about the opportunity, expressed hope that successful trials would lead to increased adoption of saffron, boosting their incomes and aligning with the provincial government’s goal of enhancing rural economies through high-value crops.
