Bahabad saffron neither in the name of Yazd nor in the name of Yazd
Meanwhile, Bahabad saffron is one of the best and most high-quality saffrons in Iran, and recently measures have been taken to introduce it in the form of tourism-agricultural festivals, which are exported inside and outside Iran by selling raw materials with different brands.
Yazd is one of the arid and water-scarce provinces located in the central plateau of Iran, which according to some officials, about 80% of its water is used in agriculture, but at the same time the removal of this green part of Yazd industrial province on the one hand and the impact of this sector on The self-sufficiency of the country, especially in the current sanctions situation, on the other hand, is not in any way beneficial, so the authorities and policymakers in this area have put the approach of replacing low-water and high-yield crops for low-water provinces like Yazd and even consider facilities for its development. have taken.
Saffron, which is known as red gold, is also one of these low-water products, which, of course, has flourished in some Yazd cities such as Bahabad before and before the agricultural policy, and at least those in charge should not try and spend it to promote it among the people. The opinion of the officials of the agricultural sector is unaware of this advantage and does not make a special effort for the growth and development of this product because it still sees the sale of high quality raw saffron from Bahabad to other cities and even countries at a low price and its supply with brand and elegant packaging We are much higher in different markets.
Of course, cultural heritage and agricultural jihad have been working for several years and by holding the Bahabad Saffron Festival, they are trying to introduce this capacity and show the city’s tourist attractions in order to brand good Bahabad saffron. It is intertwined with the field of tourism and agriculture and that the prosperity of agricultural tourism can lead to the development of agriculture.
Nationalization capacity of saffron festival
Mahmoud Ghanei, a tourism activist in Bahabad, points to the efforts and high participation of the people of Bahabad in holding this festival and states: Bahabad Festival has a similar capacity to Kashan Rose Festival and can have many tours from all over the country every year. Introduce everyone.
He also considers this festival as a favorable platform for the prosperity of tourism in Bahabad and says: holding special tours for religious minorities, student tours, tours of disabled artists in Isfahan, tours of Chadormelo mining experts and many other tours even from other countries to this region only during the festival. Saffron had led to a boom in tourism in the region.
Ghanei calls the introduction and presentation of local products, medicinal plants and all kinds of handicrafts and the symbolic performance of kilim weaving, porcelain weaving and wicker weaving along with the introduction and supply of saffron as other achievements of this festival and believes that with the continuation of this festival and registration In the national calendar of national events, we will witness the development and prosperity of tourism and the economy of Bahabad city.
He points out the impact of the national registration of the Bahabad Saffron Festival on the branding of this high-yield product in the region: This could lead to plans to send at least two Bahabad saffron producers each year to attend the international and prestigious Spanish saffron festival, and even Jamei signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with the Bahabad sisterhood with the Spanish city of Consovagra, one of the world’s leading saffron producers.
Undoubtedly, saffron, along with all the high potentials of Yazd desert province, can be considered as a comparative advantage and by taking care of it, effective steps can be taken in economic, tourism, social and even cultural prosperity and development of the province. It is the serious support of the Jihad-e-Agriculture officials of the province who do not seem to have acted properly in this regard yet.
Low reception of the private sector
Seyed Jamal Sajjadipour, head of Yazd Jihad-e-Agriculture Organization, says that 830 hectares of saffron cultivation area in this province, which is mainly located in Bahabad city and mountainous areas of the province, although: measures such as guaranteed purchase of saffron in some provinces such as Khorasan The cultivation has not taken place in Yazd, but despite the granting of facilities to saffron growers, it has not been so well received by the private sector.
He emphasizes: Jihad-e-Keshavarzi province provides facilities with 8% interest for the development of saffron cultivation and facilities with 15% interest for the development of processing of this product, but the main problem in this area is not welcoming the private sector.
The official also points out the need for the private sector to process saffron in order to increase the added value of this product in the province: although about five units in the form of home businesses follow the discussion of saffron processing in the province and a few units in the field of syrup production and Jams are made from saffron flower leaves, but we need the entry of large industries and companies in this field to follow the export of this product.
Although the officials complain about the low reception of the private sector in the field of saffron cultivation and processing, but they also acknowledge the activity of some small-scale units in this sector, so we went to one of the young activists in this sector in Bahabad to learn more about the saffron situation in this city. Let us know.
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