Saffron blooms in Leh within 30 days in high-altitude cultivation experiment

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If successful, the experiment could open new opportunities for commercial cultivation, generate livelihoods and encourage agro-based entrepreneurship among local farmers and young people

By Gulzar Bhat

Updated - November 01, 2026 at 07:03 PM. | Srinagar

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inspects an experimental saffron cultivation field on restored degraded land, in Leh

Saffron cultivation on recently restored barren land in Leh has produced its first flowers within 30 days of planting, raising hopes of expanding high-value agriculture in Ladakh’s cold desert region.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said on Sunday the experimental cultivation had begun flowering in a record 30 days, compared with the usual two-month period for the first bloom.

Inspecting the field, Saxena said an average of 20 to 25 flowers were blooming daily, while 72 flowers were recorded on Sunday morning. Nearly 22 grams of saffron had been collected in the first four days of flowering, he said.

The pilot project is being undertaken at Spituk Pharka in Leh, where around 90,000 premium Iranian saffron corms, weighing nearly 800 kg, were planted across approximately 4,000 square metres of previously barren land.

The plantation is part of Project Him Sarovar, an initiative aimed at restoring degraded land and bringing it under productive use. Water from the restored Igoo-Phey irrigation canal is being channelled towards the area to improve soil moisture and support cultivation.

The early flowering marks an encouraging development for the administration’s efforts to diversify agriculture in the high-altitude region, where harsh climatic conditions have traditionally restricted farming activities.

Jammu and Kashmir accounts for nearly 90 per cent of India’s saffron production, making Ladakh’s experiment a significant attempt to explore the crop’s potential beyond its traditional growing areas.

Economic viability

The administration has said the pilot project is intended to assess the suitability of saffron cultivation under Ladakh’s agro-climatic conditions and examine its economic viability.

If successful, the experiment could open new opportunities for commercial cultivation, generate livelihoods and encourage agro-based entrepreneurship among local farmers and young people.

Saxena congratulated the Agriculture Department and field staff for their contribution to the project, describing the development as a promising step towards strengthening Ladakh’s local economy.

Published on November 1, 2026

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