LEH: In a first for Ladakh, saffron cultivation is being attempted on land in Leh that remained barren until recently, with nearly 800 kg of premium Iranian saffron corms—around 90,000 in number—planted across 4,000 square metres as part of an agricultural-diversification initiative.
The pilot project is being undertaken at Command Area Gate No. 27 at Spituk Pharka, where the previously barren land has been restored and rejuvenated under Project Him Sarovar.
The initiative, undertaken under the guidance of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, follows the administration’s success with high-value floriculture, particularly Lilium and Gladiolus cultivation in Leh. Agriculture experts involved in the project expect the saffron corms to produce a good quantity of saffron.
The initiative is aimed at exploring new high-value crops suited to Ladakh’s unique high-altitude agro-climatic conditions and creating additional livelihood opportunities for farmers, Self-Help Groups and local entrepreneurs.
The saffron corms planted at the site have a circumference of 8–10 cm, diameter of 2.5–3 cm or more and weight of at least 10 grams, specifications considered suitable for high-quality saffron production.
Saxena said the initiative could strengthen the local economy by introducing another premium-value crop while demonstrating that degraded and barren land can be restored for productive use.
“Our endeavour is to transform degraded and barren land into productive assets and create new opportunities for our farmers,” the Lieutenant Governor said, describing saffron cultivation as another experiment in crop diversification aimed at enhancing farmers’ incomes.
Saffron is a high-value crop with strong market demand and commands a premium price. Jammu and Kashmir accounts for approximately 90 per cent of India’s saffron production, and the Ladakh initiative is being undertaken as a pilot to assess the crop’s suitability to the region and its economic potential.
The saffron plantation site forms part of around 800 acres of land being restored in Leh through fresh water supplied from the adjoining Igoo–Phey irrigation canal, which has recently been restored and made operational.
Under the initiative, unutilised or excess canal water is being channelled towards the barren land to increase soil moisture and make it suitable for cultivation.
The Command Area also has four water ponds developed under Project Him Sarovar, with a combined storage capacity of around 24 million litres, located adjacent to the saffron cultivation site.
