Srinagar, Aug 08 (KB): As a heat wave and a long dry spell are prevailing, saffron farmers in Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama fall back on ancient traditions and hopeful prayers to save their prized crop from the ravages of inclement weather.
This area, which is famous for producing some of the finest saffron in the world, has an important challenge at hand as the scorching heat and lack of rainfall continue to hit the growth of this delicate crop.
The sprawling saffron fields of Kashmir stretch across the picturesque landscape and bloom in very definite climatic conditions.
The harvesting season is essentially connected with the onset of rainfall, which acts as the steaming time for the development of flowers.
These fields are lying parched due to this year’s harsh heat and rainfall deficiency, and fears are felt for this year’s output. Farmers like Abdul Rashid, whose family has farmed saffron for generations, are getting increasingly worried.
“We rely on the rains to nourish our fields and bring in a good harvest. Without enough water, the saffron plants have a tough time growing and producing the high-quality strands we’re known for,” Rashid explains, exhaustion and hope etched on his face.
This is not a new impact that the region has been encountering due to changing weather patterns; rather, the current conditions exacerbate matters.
Dry spells are getting longer while temperature spikes are also rising, experts say, posing a challenge against traditional farming and the cycle for saffron cultivation.
Against such a grim backdrop, local farmers have been demanding intervention from the authorities. It has implored the Kashmir administration to find substitute water management solutions and support systems that would help mitigate the effects of such a dry spell.
As the saffron season approaches, the prayers of these farmers and their hopes for rain underscore a wider concern about agriculture in Kashmir.
What is playing out is quite symbolic of the broader effect of climate change on vulnerable regions and makes sustainable agricultural practices an urgent matter of engagement.
For now, saffron farmers wait, eyes on the sky, buoyed by the hope of rain, to revive their fields and secure their livelihood for the future.— (KB)
