Iranian saffron, hero of drought control
The father of Iranian saffron said: Saffron production is very important in areas that face water shortages, and in order not to lose the production of this valuable plant, we must think about progress in this area.
Engineer Behzad Sadeghi, in a conference on the literature and history of saffron, which was held at the Faculty of Literature of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, said: In Iran, the saffron plant is produced in large quantities and in an area of about 100,000 hectares, which can be said to be 100,000 jobs This is how it is created.
He added: Another importance of planting saffron in Khorasan is its very low need for water and it can provide a farmer’s life and all family expenses.
The father of Iranian saffron stated: During the last four decades in Khorasan, 85% of groundwater has been used and only 15% of groundwater resources remain for future generations, and in such circumstances, water for planting summer crops, other products and species. There will be no plant.
He said: Due to the drought in the country, planting water-deficient plants is very important and the only plant that can prevent the migration of one million farmers with their families is saffron.
Sadeghi stated that if one day saffron cultivation is removed from Khorasan, we will have one million new migrants: Saffron is a hero in the fight against drought and with the characteristics that were mentioned about it, it can be used as a source in eastern Iran and the whole country. For more income and job creation.
He pointed out: When the economic, medical, job creation, etc. effects of saffron are revealed, the world will not be idle and will pursue saffron production, and now Spain, India and the European Union have prepared areas for the development of saffron production.
The father of Iranian saffron stated: The issue that worries us right now and is the biggest danger is the entry of Afghanistan and China into this field, because if they produce saffron and develop its cultivation, production will definitely and undoubtedly They will get saffron from Iran and they can do this only by selling saffron at a low price. We need to produce more saffron and lower prices so that we can compete with Afghanistan and China.
He added: There are two solutions to solve this problem; First, to provide the technical knowledge of saffron production to farmers, and second, for the officials in the field of saffron to do extensive publicity in the world, which will increase the level of international consumption.
Sadeghi added: Saffron is about eight thousand years old in the history of Iran and has always been consumed by Iranians and was one of the important export items to Greece and Rome at that time.
He added: Saffron has wonders in various fields of economic, social, medical, currency and job creation that if paid attention to them will have many returns. In Iran, more than 7,000 species of plants have been identified, which is much more than European plants, and among these 7,000 plants, saffron is a unique plant.
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