40% reduction in saffron production in Gonabad city
Due to the fact that the summer season was very hot last year and the rainfall in Gonabad was low in winter, this year the city’s saffron production has decreased by 30 to 40 percent.
Ahmad Sadeghi, technical deputy director of Gonabad Jihad-e-Agriculture, said: Saffron is a low-water product for dry areas and economically viable for farmers. The main origin of this product is in the south of Greater Khorasan, especially Gonabad, which has gradually spread to other cities.
He stated: Therefore, saffron is an indicator in Gonabad and it is expected that the area under cultivation of this crop will increase every year in the city, but due to the reduction of water resources due to drought, especially in the last 3 years, the area under saffron cultivation in Gonabad is constant. The product has changed.
Sadeghi stated that there are currently 3,600 hectares of saffron cultivation in Gonabad, adding: Because last summer was very hot and Gonabad had low rainfall in winter, this year the city’s saffron production decreased by 30. It is up to 40%.
He continued: The average production of Gonabad saffron last year was 4 to 5 kg per hectare, which this year will be reduced to 2.5 to 3 kg.
The technical deputy of Gonabad Agricultural Jihad Management pointed to the reduction of saffron cultivation in Kakhk section due to the reduction of water resources and acknowledged: due to lack of water in Kakhk section, about 40 to 50 hectares of saffron lands in this section will be irrigated by tanker.
Sadeghi added: Last year, the selling price per cubic meter of water to farmers was 15,000 rials, and this year it was 40,000 rials, which was reduced to 17,000 rials with the measures taken and the request of city officials.
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