About Afghan Saffron and the World

Today, significant success has been achieved and saffron is increasingly been grown in Afghanistan, saffron is cultivated in more than 7 provinces regularly, a total area of around 250 hectares involving approximately 1,300 farmers. 67,500 work days have been created, and around 3000 kg of saffron is the estimate for the current year – with a value of Page around $3900000, calculated according to an average price of $1300/kg (in addition to annual 1406.25 MT of livestock fodder produced as a by-product). Country-wide investment so far resulted in 14 private Afghan companies are now engaged in processing and marketing saffron and the interest in buying Afghan saffron from abroad is increasing (including the US and Europe, UAE where it can pay the increasing in saffron price.). Estimated total suitable area for saffron production in Afghanistan is about 7,000-10, 0000 hectares. After cultivation of this area total production will be about 50,000 to 70,000 kg. Countries which are mainly famous for the highest value of saffron production are Iran which produces 200 tons per year, Greece which produces from 5 up to 8 tons a year, Afghanistan about 4 tons, Murakish and Kashmir which produces from 2/3 tons each, India up to 2 tons, Spain and Italy produces up to 1 ton each however France, Algeria, Egypt, Germany, Australia and China also have minimum saffron productions , the current global demand sits at 180/tons a years but if they consider growth trend in saffron uses and if each individual a year uses .25/grams of saffron for personal use , not considering commercial uses it will amount to 1500 tons per year demand.