17 Harvesting Red Gold in Afghanistan

Najib Malik and M. Hashem Aslami

Can the world's most expensive spice replace the deadliest drugs? New initiatives are helping to promote saffron cultivation in Afghanistan, with striking results.

ome 50,000 years ago it alternative to poppy crop. Irrigation and Livestock, and the was used in cave paint- Center’s implementing partners ings and 5000 years Saffron offers a viable and legal under the RALF Program: Danish ago traders brought it alternative to thousands of Afghan Committee for Aid to Afghan from Crete to Sumer, in farmers economically dependent Refugees (DACAAR, a consortium Smodern day Iraq. It was consid- on poppy cultivation to make ends of Danish NGOs), Washington ered so sacrosanct that its adulter- meet. Development organizations State University, and Catholic Relief ation could lead to execution in the too have realized the importance Service. medieval period. of saffron and are actively promot- ing it amongst farmers in Herat Today it’s the world’s costliest and other provinces. The glitter spice. It is Saffron or Red Gold. Funded by the UK’s Department for A kilogram of saffron fetches US $ It’s so expensive in the market that International Development (DFID), 1000 to 1200 in Herat. This could the government of Afghanistan is ICARDA’s saffron program is a joint go higher when production increas- working with ICARDA to promote initiative in partnership with es and farmers gain direct access Saffron cultivation as a potential Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, to the markets. Today, Afghan saf-

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The saffron crop provides employment opportunities The sweet smell of profit to women, as they play an active role in its cultivation, harvesting and processing. A well established saffron Saffron comes from the purple saffron crocus industry would empower women. (Crocus sativus), which blooms only for two or three weeks in autumn. Each flower carries three But, saffron needs a long-term commitment. The reddish-orange stigmas. The flowers are picked by bulbs remain in the soil throughout the year, for sev- hand, the stigmas are removed, dried, and sold. It eral years. Some farmers will be unwilling to tie up takes 150,000 flowers, and over 400 hours of their best fields for long periods, especially for a rela- labor, to produce a single kilogram of dried saf- tively new crop. Interestingly saffron offers profits fron. Saffron is available in filament form (intact even on less than prime lands. stigmas) or as powder. Powder is much cheaper, but also easier to adulterate. Another challenge in making saffron widely cultivated is the high initial investment. Many farmers may not Saffron is used in cooking as a seasoning and col- be able to make the initial investment to buy flower oring agent. Formerly, it was also used as a fabric bulbs. The government would need to step in to pro- dye, in perfumes, and in herbal medicine; modern vide support. science is beginning to rediscover some of these medicinal properties such as anti-cancer proper- In spite of some growers being unable to find enough ties (for cancer therapy). family labor and having to depend on paid labor, inter- est is growing rapidly and government agencies are Annual global production is around 300 tons, of unable to supply enough bulbs to meet demand. which Iran produces over 90%. In the West, high- quality saffron retails for well over US$ 11,000 per kilogram. Strengthening capacity

fron reaches the international market through Iran, About 1100 farmers grow saffron today, but only 700 India, Dubai and Pakistan, but is not sold as an of them produced it for sale in 2006. In 2006, the saf- Afghan product. fron yield suffered a setback in Pushtun Zarghun because of a prolonged rainy period, which hampered Analysis of cost and revenue data collected from farm- harvest. A project survey in Herat province showed ers in Pashtun Zarghun in Herat province indicates that over 80% of farmers grow at least small quanti- that saffron gives far higher returns than most crops, ties of saffron every year, for household use. even more than poppy.

Red Gold in Afghanistan

Area under cultivation in 2007 90 ha Total number of Saffron growers in 2007 1100 Average yield 10 kg/ha Total production in 2005 640 kg

Saffron has many advantages when compared with poppy. The growing season for it is from mid- September to mid-May and the active growth period is from October to the beginning of December. Thus, saffron does not compete for irrigation and labor with other crops during the cropping period that is from March to August. The crop requires only two irriga-

tions, which is ideal for farmers with small land hold- Afghan farmers learning the proper method of separating the ings and little access to water. stigmas from flowers.

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Quality improvement could scale up production and that could be achieved through establishing farmers’ cooperatives.

The ICARDA-led project has estab- lished links with saffron research centers in Iran, which will provide training to Afghan farmers on seeding methods (corm selection), Afghan government officials from the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics evaluating the inter- crop management, and harvesting cropping of saffron and fruit trees in Herat. and drying methods. The challenge before the farmers The method of drying is important is the marketing of the produce. The conference made 14 recom- to enhance quality. In accordance Without proper marketing chan- mendations for a national strategy with ISO 3632 Standards, the key nels, farmers will either be unable on saffron, agreed upon by pro- quality characteristics are as fol- to access potential markets, or be ducers, government agencies, and lows: forced to sell to traders at a frac- ministry representatives. One key tion of the eventual retail price. output: the National Saffron Moisture….12% DACAAR, a key project partner, is Coordination and Support Flavor (picrocrocine test)….70 helping to strengthen the capacity Committee was established shortly Aroma (safranal) …… 20-30 of Afghan saffron traders to enable after the conference, led by the Color strength (crocine)……190. them to compete in international Ministry of Agriculture and markets. Irrigation. The Committee will coordinate the work of different The project’s capacity building ministries and research institutions efforts also target research and on issues such as production, qual- extension staff from Afghan univer- ity standards, import/export regu- sities and the Ministry’s Provincial lations, and marketing. Departments. Gradually, a platform is being built, for the development The new strategy aims to consoli- of a sustainable, profitable saffron date and disseminate results from industry in Afghanistan. various saffron projects, and resolve specific technical issues Building a national e.g. quality control standards for exports, phytosanitary require- platform ments for import of bulbs. There are plans to expand demonstration A national workshop in Herat in trials in different parts of the coun- November 2006 helped consolidate try, provide support to producer the progress and prepare the cooperatives, and establish village- ground for further expansion. More level service centers for cleaning than 100 stakeholders (including and drying of saffron. 21women) participated: Ministry staff, saffron growers and their It will be some years before the associations, corm bank associa- saffron industry in Afghanistan can tions, traders, five Afghan universi- compete with global heavyweights. ties (Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh But the enormous potential, and and Paktia), Washington State the enthusiasm of local communi- University, the Ministry of Counter Mullah Akbar, known as "Baba-e- Zafaran" ties, is reflected in a statement by Narcotics, FAO, NGOs, donor agen- is a pioneer saffron farmer in Pashtun Najia Latif, a woman farmer from zarghun Restrict of Heart. cies, and others.

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Pashtun Zarghun: “With the money I earned from selling saffron last year, I bought carpets for my home and new clothes for my chil- dren. I also bought medicine to treat a serious health problem – I could never afford these things before.”

Women and Saffron Women’s role in household liveli- hood

In villages most of the women are assisting their family through live- Afghan women harvesting saffron flowers in Herat Province (mid-november 2006). stock rearing and small income generation activities like embroi- experiences • Changing mind and attitude of dery, which do not fulfill their need • Holding of field-days for women men towards women for income. Recently, however, saf- • Providing proper facilities for • Influencing the men by women fron production in villages has gen- saffron drying not to grow poppy erated job opportunity for the women in and out of their homes. According to an estimate, 80 % of Economic impact on Problems of women the saffron processing is done by women saffron growers the women and this may contribute to increasing their income level. • Providing independent income • Inaccessibility to saffron market Women activities in saffron produc- sources for women • Unavailability of specialist tion and processing: • Providing licit job opportunities women in production and pro- • Help in land preparation and for women cessing of saffron planting of saffron bulbs • Promoting self dependability • Lack of knowledge related pro- • Collection of saffron flowers among women duction and processing of saf- from the fields • Contribution to overall livelihood fron • Separation of the stigmas from of the household especially the • Cultural barriers the flowers women • Lack of proper equipment for • Drying saffron • Promoting self reliability and processing and packing of saf- • Packing of saffron self confidence among the fron women • Lack of coordination between In order to promote the activities women saffron growers of women in production and pro- cessing of saffron, DACAAR has Socio-culture impact of offered the following facilities to saffron on women date. • 250 women have been trained • Creating participation opportu- in saffron production and pro- nities for women cessing • Improving women social rela- tionship with the others through Najib Malik ([email protected]) is the RALF • Facilitating meetings for women Program Manager at ICARDA. Hashem Islami to exchange their ideas and frequent meetings is NRM specialist, Herat, Afghanistan.

ICARDA Caravan No. 24, June 2007