Harvesting saffron in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Guroo said his department was working hard to increase the saffron production with a special focus on the plateaus in and around Pampore.

"Under the economic revival of Jammu and Kashmir saffron sector, the government is making efforts to dig wells to provide irrigation to the saffron fields and assist farmers so that they can increase the quality and quantity of saffron production," Guroo said.

Kashmir saffron faces a threat primarily due to shrinking of saffron fields and secondly because of the substandard quality sold in its name.

Not only have people constructed residential houses and shops on the saffron land, even the government has acquired huge portions of land for the purposes other than saffron cultivation.

"The government has to tighten the noose around people selling sub-standard saffron and also against those converting the precious land into commercial and residential purposes," said Mir. "Only then can we be able to save this precious crop."

Estimates say 150,000 people in 226 villages in and around Pampore are dependent on saffron for their livelihood.