Reduction of harvest and gradual migration of saffron from Rashtkhar
Rashtkhavar farmers consider the effects of the past few years to be effective in reducing the harvest of saffron on their farms, but in addition to this, the reduction of groundwater resources and the movement of saline water from upstream to downstream aquifers and farmers’ harvest From these water sources in order to irrigate the fields can be a convincing reason for the gradual reduction of saffron harvest in Rashtkhar.
Mohammad Yousefinejad, a farmer in Rasht, said about saffron cultivation: Once upon a time, Iranian saffron was known only as Ghaenat saffron in the country, but gradually this rare product reached other parts of Khorasan Razavi province, so that the amount and harvest in other places The province was far better than Ghaenat, Rashtkhawari farmers were among the farmers who welcomed this crop and followed it as one of their most important crops.
He added: Many farmers, due to the water needs of this crop, diminished the cultivation of their other crops. Lack of attention to other crops and traditional flood irrigation methods in order to supply the water needed by saffron farms, groundwater resources in the plains. Rashtkhar with a sharp decline and made this plain the most critical plain in the province.
Regarding the diminishing cultivation of other crops in Rashtkhar, he said: Almond orchards, pomegranates, seasonal fruits, sugar beet, sesame, etc. are among the crops that can be seen in most Rashtkhar lands in the past, but today These less colorful products are followed in Rashtkhar than before. Today, due to the importance of saffron and the cultivation of this product in Rashtkhar, the cultivation of this product needs special attention and serious support in the field of modern agriculture.
Alireza Zare, another farmer in this city, said in this regard: Improper irrigation of farms with traditional irrigation methods has significantly increased water harvesting in Rashtkhar, but some farmers still do not understand this and do not realize that irrigation of saffron farms Follow yourself.
He went on to ask for planning to increase the holding of Jihad Keshavarzi training courses in order to create a culture of change in the method of growing crops. He said: Using and turning farmers to new irrigation methods, cultivating saffron in greenhouses in addition to reducing water withdrawal from Underground resources increase crop yields and protect against climate change, a concern that has plagued farmers every year for fear of losing their crops to the cold.
He added: Currently, more than 6,200 hectares of Rashtkhavar farms are under saffron cultivation. Any damage to the harvest or reduction of its harvest will cause problems for farmers, but management in the cultivation of the crop and also pay attention to the method Cultivation, irrigation methods, etc. can save the farmer and the critical plain of Rashtkhar from the danger of destruction.
He also reminded: this requires media attention and informing about this issue in ways that are understandable for dear farmers, which with the necessary training, in addition to changing the cultivation method, will help prevent monoculture in this city.
Hamidreza Rezaei, director of Jihad Keshavarzi in Rashtkhar, said: It is still too early to predict the decrease in saffron production in Rashtkhar and this issue is directly related to the weather. Saffron farmers in Rashtkhar have irrigated their saffron fields in 3 stages. In Rashtkhar it has been postponed due to weather conditions.
He further stated: Cultivation of various products in Rashtkhar, including cotton, pistachios, saffron, pomegranate, wheat, barley, beets, etc., is currently underway, with the planning and expert work of some other products from The products in the family of medicinal plants have now been added to the castable collection of this city.
The director of Jihad Keshavarzi Rashtkhar, emphasizing that the efficiency and harvest of the crop in this city is based on the weather conditions, added: the forecast of saffron harvest depends on the existing weather conditions, which this year also the weather conditions Delayed flowering and harvest.
Rezaei also further pointed out that new irrigation methods and training courses for modern agriculture are being followed beyond the instructions and the amount of this complex in the city, adding: land leveling, piping, canal rehabilitation, method New irrigation has been one of the programs pursued in Rashtkhar in recent years, which is still going strong.
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