Jammu, Feb 18: Saffron production in Jammu and Kashmir dropped to 19.58 metric tonnes in 2024–25 from a high of 23.53 MT the previous year, official data shows, even as the cultivated area held steady at 1,116.27 hectares.
Deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary, replying to NC MLA Hasnain Masoodi’s question in the assembly, traced the trend: output was 17.33 MT in 2020–21, dipped to 14.87 MT and 14.94 MT over the next two years, spiked sharply in 2023–24, then fell back. Average productivity across traditional and rejuvenated fields improved to 6.33 kg/ha last year but slid to 5.27 kg/ha now; traditional areas alone yielded 5.02 MT at 4.5 kg/ha.
Exports shrank to 17.82 MT (Rs 486.43cr) from 20.47 MT, though total production value hit Rs 534.53 crore. Choudhary said the government is pushing better farming practices and rejuvenation to stabilize and boost yields.
