Kashmir Saffron Gets Unique Tag

SRINAGAR, (IANS) – Kashmir saffron, which is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir, has been given the GI tag by the Geographical Indications Registry. The spice is grown in some regions of Kashmir including Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar regions.

This is a landmark development. With this, India has become the only saffron producing country for which the indication has been assigned.

GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. To function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in each place.

In India, Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags, i.e., 47 products followed by Tamil Nadu

(39). At international level Germany has the largest number of GIs in force (9,499), followed by China (7,566), the EU (4,914), the Republic of Moldova (3442) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (3,147).

Saffron growers will enable India to be an important player in the global saffron market in which Iran, the world’s largest producer of saffron in the world, has the largest market share.

Kashmir saffron is grown at an altitude of 1600m to 1800m above mean sea level, which adds to its uniqueness in comparison to other saffron varieties.