Published Paper Details:

Jammu and Kashmiri's only Indian state In which major proportion of quality saffron is produced but the area under the saffron cultivation is declining due to conversion of saffron land for commercial purposes causing a setback to this important activity. The area cultivated declined from 5707hac in 1996 -97 to 3785 hac in 2009-10 and production of saffron declined from 15.95(MT)in 1996-97 to 9.46 to in 2009-10 and yield declined from 2.80(KG/HA) in 1996 -97 to 2.50(KG/HA) in 2009-10. Lack of proper irrigation facilities and adaptation of unscientific methods of cultivation has caused production and productivity to remain low. This paper highlights in detail the trends in production and productivity of saffron and factors responsible for causing decline in the production of saffron. Pressure due to increased urbanization on land on which saffron grows has been discussed and measures to be taken to increase production acreage has also been discussed. Area under saffron production in different countries has also been analyzed and discussed in detail.