Saffron production in one of the villages of Kermanshah province

Saffron production in one of the villages of Kermanshah province

In Kermanshah province, saffron cultivation has become popular in the province in recent years, but the production of this product is more prominent in the village of Shahini, which is located on the main road from Kermanshah to Kamyaran and Oramanat.

Water shortage in recent years and the familiarity of people in different areas with planting new and sometimes strategic crops along with creating easier ways to sell products and added value of some crops, has led villagers and cities near and far to plant a variety of plants; Some have no history in that area and two very famous examples are the numerous families of medicinal plants and saffron.

Saffron cultivation has grown significantly in the western provinces of the country during the last 10 years, and the quality of this product, according to farmers and sellers, is not only not lower than the eastern and northern regions of the country, but sometimes even higher. In Kermanshah province, saffron cultivation has become popular in the province in recent years, but the production of this product is more prominent in the village of Shahini, which is located on the main road from Kermanshah to Kamyaran and Oramanat.

The population of Shahini village is more than 540 people and the main occupation of the people of this village is mostly agriculture and animal husbandry due to its fertile soil and rich sources of surface and groundwater; Major agricultural products include wheat, canola, corn, beets, tomatoes, chickpeas and barley, to which saffron has been added in recent years and since 1390.

The CEO of Omid Entrepreneurship Fund, announcing his support for the cultivation and packaging of strategic plants in different parts of the country, says: Omid Entrepreneurship Fund supports small and small businesses in terms of supply of raw materials and sales market by supporting home and workshop businesses.

He says about saffron cultivation in Shahini area of Kermanshah: Regardless of the efforts of the residents of Shahini village, especially the women of this village, we have provided employment opportunities for 25 people so far; In a way, we allocated 1400 million Rials for the cultivation and production of saffron onions and 1300 million Rials for the processing and packaging of saffron, which has led to the employment of 25 people in this region.

According to Noorullahzadeh, the packaging quality of Shahini saffron, despite the nascent cultivation of this product in Kermanshah province, is at the same level as the leading provinces or even more suitable than them, because producers have chosen lower profits to satisfy customers and to Acquiring a sales market will cost you more profit.

He described the support plan as one of the fund’s support methods and added: In this plan, the support person, in addition to supporting small producers, also helps producers in the supply and sale of the product.
In fact, in order to facilitate sales and marketing, the sponsor first forms a production and packaging cooperative, and then, after going through the legal process and obtaining the necessary licenses, its health license is registered.

According to the CEO of Omid Entrepreneurship Fund, the support of saffron planting and processing plan and packaging, while supporting the covered people, provides the necessary advice to improve the condition of their products, so that in the saffron support plan of Shahini village, 40 people covered in planting and Saffron harvesting and one person have also worked in the field of processing and packaging.

Agriculture in our country has a long and long history and is known as a strategic activity due to its close relationship with human food supply; However, in recent years, the water crisis has affected a large part of agricultural activities.
Given that in the current situation in many parts of the country is facing the problem of water shortage and drought, the cultivation of crops such as saffron in addition to creating sustainable employment and eliminating unemployment in deprived and rural areas, high economic benefits in terms of exports and currency for the country The strategic product of saffron, in addition to consumption in the food industry, is also a medicinal plant that grows in arid areas and if the necessary facilities and conditions in cultivation and processing are provided, it can be a suitable alternative for products that need more water.

According to the Secretary of the Medicinal Plants Headquarters, despite the fact that 92% of the world’s saffron is grown in Iran, but this product is exported in raw form, while we can obtain higher added value by processing it.
The Deputy Minister of Jihad for Agriculture also mentioned the existence of small farmers and the lack of liquidity as two challenges facing saffron production and said: Agricultural organizations should help create workshops that transfer knowledge and technology to produce and process saffron in a favorable way.
In the support plan of Omid Entrepreneurship Fund, which has expanded significantly in recent years, the support person, by supporting small producers, while providing raw materials to them, tries to complete the production and packaging of manufactured goods and is also involved in selling products.