Iranian red gold (saffron) is strange in the world market

Iranian red gold (saffron) is strange in the world market

While Iranian producers and exporters get the least benefit from the global saffron market, the export of this product in the form of non-oil exports can be the savior of the country’s economy and the main axis in achieving a resistance economy, while ignoring this point is still In the process of cultivation to export and marketing of this product, there is a strategic wave.
Iran is a unique producer and it is better to say unrivaled saffron in the world, but a comparison of the value and export volume of this valuable export item shows the bitter fact that not much has changed in terms of weight value, even if in dollar and rial value. Those changes were due to rising global prices and no more.
This bitter and thought-provoking situation occurs in a situation where saffron is in the group of products with high capacity to create employment, economic development and currency for the country, and given that increasing its production does not require large capital, in addition, it can be created The conversion, processing and packaging industries significantly increased their export profits.
To have a product for hundreds of years and historians in different types and forms to call it the land and also in management and planning for development and harvest with the least waste, processing and packaging, marketing, export and introduction to Jahanian, as an Iranian brand and has problems in reliable and reliable packaging, is a sign of disregard for this economic value, and this is why Iranian manufacturers and exporters are still satisfied with the significant trade of this product in global markets to the minimum possible. have became.
Iran’s small share of the red gold trade in the world, while producing about 95% of this product, shows the depth of the tragedy and the glories that are heard from time to time from the cultivation and production of saffron in countries like Afghanistan. In Spain, saffron is packaged and sold under its own name, while the quality of Iranian saffron is unique and the only complaints that lead to silence due to the negligence of the authorities.
While 18 institutions and groups are responsible and responsible in the policy and planning of the country’s red gold, the failure to reach a common discourse and move in a single direction to perform their duties also shows a deep indifference and self-centered actions in this regard.

The need to define an international legal identity for saffron
Faculty member of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and researcher in the field of saffron in this regard said: Saffron product is a strategic product in all aspects and directions that can be easily used with purposeful, effective and coordinated planning. .
Dr. Alireza Kouchaki pointed out that when the area under cultivation of this crop in the country was 100,000 hectares, we had a production of 400 tons with a yield of 3.5 kg per hectare, and now the average yield is the same, and this is while In all horticultural and agricultural products, the yield has increased up to three times in recent decades, while in the field of saffron, although some farmers have managed to increase the yield significantly, but on average, there has been no change in the average.
He continued: We should take action in the field of defining the international legal identity for saffron in the world so that in addition to saffron being recognized as Iran and maintaining its status and prestige, we will see the world’s attention to this product in Iran.
The university professor emphasized: Countries such as Spain and Greece, which have significant activities in the field of saffron, packaging and supply to the world, have defined the identity indicators of this product for themselves, while still a specific and global identity for Iranian saffron Not defined.
He clarified that the existing problems related to saffron are the problem of governments, adding: Considering the activities and duties of 18 institutions and organizations in the field of saffron and the existence of many colleges, researchers and scholars, there is still no unity and coordination between these departments. We do not see the country, and this situation damages the economic value and position of this product every day.
Referring to the uncontrolled expansion of saffron cultivation in 22 provinces of the country, Kouchaki added: In 1400, the yield of saffron per hectare will reach seven kilograms, while this important goal has not been achieved universally and comprehensively.
He emphasized that saffron cultivation is a small-scale ship and an important feature of family and family agriculture in the country: We can not expect to change this method seriously.
He added: Considering that the cultivation of this product in the past was done with the least and most natural inputs, increasing the yield of this product has been achieved by some farmers through the use of chemical inputs, which has a negative impact on the quality of the final product. We should take this warning seriously about the decrease in the quality of Iran’s saffron product and its negative impact on the world market.

Shipping option The principle of maintaining product quality
Referring to the role and importance of transportation during harvest and its effect in preventing crop loss and maintaining the quality of saffron flowers, the university professor said: It can be seen that in most areas, bulk harvests and high volumes of saffron flowers are harvested. Due to the impossibility of time and the lack of manpower, it is not possible to process the flowers, and this causes the flowers to pertain and also reduce the quality of the saffron obtained.
Kouchaki emphasized: Apart from this point, issues such as climate change and the movement of saffron cultivation areas from south to north are other issues that have affected the quality of the final product of Iranian saffron.
He considered the highest yield of saffron to be related to the middle areas of Shirvan and Quchan cities and added: while the cultivation of this product was specific to the two provinces of the country, but now it is observed that saffron is also cultivated in non-conditional provinces and this It can cause mixing in the product and reduce its quality.

Saffron is a medicinal and food spice in the world today
Faculty member of the Department of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, pointing out that more work should be done in identifying and introducing other aspects of saffron product and its medicinal, therapeutic and food effects, added: It is known for its therapeutic, medicinal and nutritional value, and for this reason, more work needs to be done in this area.
Dr. Kouchaki said: In Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, good research and studies have been done in the field of medicine and treatment of red gold.
He continued: The existing cultural problems in the field of cooperation and coordination between different agencies and organizations in promoting the status of saffron and organizing the process of planting, holding, harvesting and exporting it should be managed, otherwise we will see a lot of economic damage every day. We will be the background.

The incompatibility of the growth of the Iranian saffron market in the world with domestic production
The head of the Agriculture and Water Commission of the Mashhad Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture had recently said: During the past year, the growth of the Iranian saffron market in other countries has not been as much as the increase in production of this product in Khorasan Razavi and other parts of the country. More efforts should be made to market the Iranian saffron in the world.
Ali Shariati Moghaddam added: Since saffron is a product with many benefits for the country’s agriculture and people in the villages of Khorasan Razavi and some other parts of the country make a living from the cultivation and sale of saffron and the cultivation of this product is compatible with water-scarce areas. The product is still growing.
He added: Although economic enterprises have made good investments in the saffron trade, and this product has a variety of quality, packaging and high added value, and enterprises were able to provide the necessary infrastructure in this, but still in Global markets have not seen growth in the supply of Iranian saffron brand.
The head of the Agriculture and Water Commission of Mashhad Chamber of Commerce said: it is necessary to strengthen the foundation of saffron product during a five-year plan and this product should be registered and saffron farmers should learn the necessary training in this field.
Shariati Moghaddam added: Saffron producer in Iran annually cultivates and produces 35 to 40 kg of saffron per hectare, but the average harvest and what is obtained is 3.6 kg per hectare per year. On the other hand, saffron is produced. They have 30 to 40% quality difference.
He continued: If scientific information and research in the field of quantitative and qualitative development of saffron becomes operational and we move towards introducing saffron as a national flagship product in the agricultural sector of Iran to the world and everyone knows Iran as saffron, Cutting off the private sector as drivers of development makes this valuable move operational in the field of saffron products.

Neglect of saffron product processing
Director of Horticulture of Khorasan Razavi Agricultural Jihad Organization, stating that processing a valuable and strategic saffron product in the country is a necessity that has been neglected so far, added: More than 120 saffron packaging units in Khorasan Razavi, although they have good activity, but all these units They pack raw.
Hashem Naghibi continued: This is while we should take action in the field of saffron processing with the aim of gaining more economic benefits and full use of all the capacities of this valuable product.
He said: In the field of saffron product processing, very brief and to the extent of producing tea and some saffron drinks, some activities have been done, but in many fields of activity in this field, no action has been taken yet.
He added: This is while we should think about producing new products from saffron, which include new drinks, essential oils, flavoring and production of products in different sizes according to the characteristics of saffron, including its happiness.
He said: The area under saffron cultivation in Khorasan Razavi is more than 86,000 hectares and more than 300 tons of crops are harvested from this area.
Naqibi added: A total of 144,000 farmers are active in the field of saffron cultivation in this province, and for each hectare of saffron cultivation area, 200 people are employed and a permanent job opportunity is created.
Director of Horticulture and Agriculture of Khorasan Razavi Jihad Agricultural Organization said: Last year, about 250 tons of saffron worth 355 million dollars were exported to different countries.
Referring to the increase in saffron exports last year, Naqibi added: In 1396, about 221 tons of saffron worth 310 million and 500 thousand dollars were exported abroad.
He stated: Last year, 310 tons of saffron were harvested from 86,400 hectares of farms in Khorasan Razavi.

Saffron export leap package
Deputy Minister of Trade and Trade Development of Khorasan Razavi Industry, Mining and Trade Organization, pointing out that the preparation of saffron export leap package is one of the happy events that is currently being prepared and compiled in the National Saffron Council, added: compiling this package can be the expected change To realize in the field of organizing and targeting exports.
Ali Ghafouri Moghaddam added: This package can achieve the development of saffron exports by considering the various features of this product and increasing its currency by considering the various sectors of production, processing, marketing and export.
He pointed out that the processing and packaging of this product has a great impact on its extensive exports and branding, adding: Last year, according to statistics received from the province’s customs, 240 tons of saffron worth $ 315 million were exported directly from the province to other countries. Of this amount, 177 tons have been exported in packages of more than 30 grams and 63 tons in packages of 10 to 30 grams.
The official continued: This amount of packaging and prevention of bulk exports can play a key role in the added value of this product, which should be done a lot in this field.