Recommended to plant saffron instead of pistachios in Kerman
Kerman – The persistence of drought in Kerman province and the correction of the cultivation pattern has led many Kermani farmers to develop saffron production in fields, and seed of red gold is gradually spreading in fields.
Mehr news agency – Provincial group: The 17-year drought in Kerman province has taken over the agriculture of this province, as the drought is considered as the most important challenge of the current decade in Kerman province, and the continuation of this process can be the provincial economy, which is the most important axis based on the prospecting document. His economy is in jeopardy.
Water drainage in Kerman is so low that nearly 1000 Kerman villages are not eaten and watered with tankers, drying Qanats and seasonal rivers and reducing the groundwater level in Kerman province each day brings new consequences for the province, and farmers risk more From the past.
Reducing the quantitative and qualitative level of agriculture in Kerman province brings more pressure on farmers every day, and many villagers have moved to laborers instead of agriculture in large cities.
The presence of severe water stresses has put an undesirable over-view of the current situation in front of the eyes of economic observers, and in order to overcome this problem, implementation of projects, including water assistance in the province, has been on the agenda.
The establishment of the meter on water wells, the construction of unpolluted water wells, the development of industry and mining along with agriculture, changing the pattern of cultivation and the development of mechanized irrigation are on the agenda. However, many farmers in Kerman province because of migration, marginalized cities have grown up, and manufacturers today, today The role plays the social and cultural scourge of the big cities.
Development of Saffron Farms Strategic Agriculture Policy in Kerman
In this regard, plans to change the cultivation pattern are considered as one of the most important options for solving agricultural problems in Kerman province. The most important option for changing crops is the development of saffron cultivation in the lowlands of Kerman province.
Because of low water demand and high economic cost, saffron can be the key to eliminating the problems of farmers in Kerman province and therefore the cultivation of this product in most of the cities of Kerman province, especially in the northern provinces of the province is on the agenda.
Mohammad Ghaempanah, an agricultural expert in Kerman province, said: “Unfortunately, the use of water crops in the province of Kerman, especially among rural households is very common, so that the water is sometimes used to cultivate eggplant and pumpkin, and eventually each kilo The product has a price of 500 toomans in the market and for the production of each kilo, four liters of water is used, which each liter is more than 500 toomans, which means eliminating water as the main wealth of agriculture.
He stressed that if farmers are interested in the continuation of their rural life, they should plan to solve this problem. In fact, it is not necessary to cultivate some water products in the province, and we need to produce a product that has a high added value for the province.
“We are witnessing a drop in water levels throughout the year in several plains of the province, which fell several meters below the surface of the water, and the wells were broken down and landed, but still watermelons are in this situation,” the agricultural expert said.
He added: “This trend needs to be reformed, and the change in the pattern of cultivation is also in the same direction. In fact, agricultural Jihad should be offered to the farmer in terms of available water availability, soil type and climatic conditions, the best product produced in each area.” Give
Ghaempanah added: “One of the reasons we see 70 percent of the water lost in irrigating farms in the province is that the farmer has provided free water and that he should change that style and that the farmer knows that water should be used in agriculture. Pay money.
He said: “Under these conditions, we are witnessing the cultivation of saffron in Kerman province, which is being carried out especially in Zarand, Kerman and Ravar. Fortunately, high-quality saffron is grown in these areas, especially the” plain of soil “, and can become a notable brand.
The agricultural expert added: “The product needs very little water during the cultivation, which is often required by rainfall, and in return for a great deal of profit, the farmer, and the development of this cultivation in Kerman is, in fact, the code of agricultural development and the continuity of villages Is.
Facility farmers are paid
The head of the Jihad-e-Agriculture Organization of Kerman province said in an interview with Mehran regarding the cultivation of saffron: “Fortunately, I have seen farmers in Kermani turning to saffron production, and the maximum cooperation has been done with farmers in this regard.”
Abbas Saeedi added that this year, two thousand and 900 kilograms of saffron have been harvested in the limited range of saffron farms in the province, which is a significant figure and should be expanded.
He stressed: “In line with the new water policies that are being implemented in Kerman province, changing the pattern of crops is on a serious agenda and preventing the production of water-based products and low yields, and on the other hand, farmers who produce low-grade and high-yielding products Going help and support.
“This year, we are seeing an increase of more than 242 hectares of saffron farms in Kerman province, and this trend will continue in line with the upcoming plan,” he said.
Sa’idī said that the area under cultivation in the province is 822 hectares and said: “This trend is increasing rapidly and, thankfully, the product is of high quality and also has export power.
He mentioned Zarand, Kohbanan and Baft as future cities in the field of cultivating saffron, adding that cultivation in other cities is under way and to encourage farmers the proper facilities are also allocated to the cultivation of saffron, and we are trying to support the farmers towards Producing this lucrative product.
Saeedi pointed to the seventh rank of Kerman province in the field of cultivating saffron cultivation in the country, adding that cultivation of saffron is very new in the province and with the current trend of Kerman, it can become one of the main pillars of saffron production in the country.
He said: Saffron harvesting is currently underway in Kerman province and will continue until the end of December.
He continued, 20 people worked per hectare in each period of cultivating saffron, and this is significant.
Director of Horticulture of Kerman Agricultural Jihad Organization said: “Fortunately, this year, cultivation of saffron has been developed in Kerman province, and every year we see more farmers in this product.
Mehdi Lotfalizadeh continued: The most important city in the province is the production of this product Zarand, and 210 hectares of land in this city is cultivated, which is 160 hectares of fertile.
He continued: “We try to put the best onions of saffron according to the conditions of the province to the farmers, and in the first stage the saffron onion will be supplied from Zarand and eventually from Khorasan Razavi.
Saffron can compensate for the decline in pistachio production
He said the development of this product could save the province’s agricultural needs along with increasing economic power.
He called for modification of the cultivating model and mechanization of irrigation from the very serious objectives of the agricultural sector in Kerman province and called for the policy to be pursued by the farmers.
The deputy director of the Agricultural Jihad in Kerman province added: “We also have the necessary facilities and support, and these are the farmers who have to work.”
He estimated the average harvest of saffron in the province from five kilograms per hectare and, in the best possible condition, up to seven kilograms, said: “The disease and pest of this plant in the province are rare, therefore, the best opportunity is against the province’s agriculture.”
While millions of liters of water are wasted every year in the province, saffron can provide the ground for the development and redevelopment of villages in the province, while pistachios, as the most valuable crops in Kerman province, are now in an unfavorable situation and each year the amount of this production The product is reduced due to drought and saffron gives the province a chance to continue to be in this area.
Reporter: Asma Mahmoudi
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