Saffron grown in Kashmir has received the geographical indication (GI) even as the saffron crop sees both decline in its production as well as shrinking of the land under cultivation. The Union government issued a certificate of GI registration for the saffron grown in the Kashmir Valley.
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Key-Points
The GI certification establishes specific geographical origin and certifies certain unique qualities of the product and enables those who have the right to use sign in order to prevent third parties using the sign.
With the GI tag, Kashmir Saffron will acquire more prominence in the export market and would help the farmers get a better remunerative price.
It would also stop the prevalent adulteration of Kashmir Saffron and thereby authenticated Saffron will fetch much better prices.
Kashmir saffron, grown at an altitude of 1,600 metres, saw a steep decline in production by around 65%, from 16 tonnes to 5.6 tonnes in 2018.
Land under saffron cultivation has also come down to 3,715 hectares in 2009-10 from 5,707 hectares in 1996.
