Saffron supplanting opium poppies as cash crop in Afghanistan - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 03-01-2009, 06:48 PM

This from the oft-maligned SF Chronicle, from one of their own staff. The Chron is on life support and may not make it.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/01/MNA415A7UB.DTL&hw=saffron+afghan&sn=001&sc=1000

excerpts:

In an effort to eradicate opium production, the Afghan government, international aid groups and private businesses are distributing saffron crocus bulbs to farmers in this region along the Iran border. The farmers say their new crop is better suited to their religious beliefs (Islam prohibits the use and sale of illicit drugs) and, ultimately, is more profitable.

Worldwide demand for Afghan saffron is rising, and the price has doubled in the past year to an average of $1,360 per pound - or roughly 38 times what poppy farmers in the southern part of the country earn.

The growers also say saffron doesn't require as much labor or water as poppy plants - a significant selling point in light of Afghanistan's continuing drought. Saffron fields are irrigated only once or twice during the winter gestation period. The saffron bulbs, which are fertile for up to seven years, are planted in August and September, and the flowers are harvested in November and December.

"We can grow four times more saffron than poppies," Ataie said.

"We've seen an increase for demand in markets outside of Afghanistan, along with an increase in prices every year since we started," said Ghafair Hamid Zaie, 24, whose family established Afghan Saffron in 2006, one of the nation's largest saffron exporters.

Kuan · #2 03-01-2009, 06:50 PM

Breed Ortolans. That's $$$ right there.

Eskimo · #3 03-01-2009, 07:10 PM

I'm just mad about Saffron.

Carleton Hughes · #4 03-01-2009, 07:36 PM

I want my opiates,dammit!

R Leo · #5 03-01-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

Breed Ortolans. That's $$$ right there.

Only outside France.

LaRondo · #6 03-01-2009, 07:53 PM

Now there goes the real deal ...

LUVMBDiesels · #7 03-01-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskimo

I'm just mad about Saffron.

Did you know

Electrical banana is going to be the very next craze...

I think it is great that the farmers have a new and more profitable cash crop. Saffron is going to be a great thing for the Afghan people.

Botnst · #8 03-01-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskimo

I'm just mad about Saffron.

They call me mellow yellow.

Quite rightly.

cmac2012 · #9 03-01-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskimo

I'm just mad about Saffron.

Oh man, first time I had saffron bread, I understood what all the fuss is about.

Gurkha · #10 03-01-2009, 09:49 PM

Saffron is quintessential in Indian cooking, from Biriyani to many desserts, its quite expensive here and the Indian, Iranian and now the Afghanistan variety is the costliest compared to the Spanish one. Hopefully this should bring down Saffron prices a bit, currently it comes from Kashmir and due to the terrorism there, it is damn costly.

Ara T. · #11 03-01-2009, 09:57 PM

Yeah it is pretty damned expensive, 50 bucks for a couple handfuls! Gives great flavor and even better color to food though.

Gurkha · #12 03-01-2009, 10:24 PM

To enhance flavor of saffron, you need to add a dash of Kewra and then it gets pretty intense. The rule of thumb is to infuse it into a small quantity of warm milk and then add it to your dishes.

mgburg · #13 03-01-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurkha

Saffron is quintessential in Indian cooking, from Biriyani to many desserts, its quite expensive here and the Indian, Iranian and now the Afghanistan variety is the costliest compared to the Spanish one. Hopefully this should bring down Saffron prices a bit, currently it comes from Kashmir and due to the terrorism there, it is damn costly.

"When they outlaw Saffron, only terrorists/outlaws will have Saffron!"

Gurkha · #14 03-01-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgburg

"When they outlaw Saffron, only terrorists/outlaws will have Saffron!"

Kind of impossible, its part of the cuisine and is also and ingredient used for skin care.

link · #15 03-02-2009, 12:01 AM

Agriculture was one of the key tools for building our nation. We lead the world in agriculture production starting in the 1930s and have exported the technologies around the globe.

The key problems Afghanistan has to resolve are a lack of broad availability of fresh water and most of the rest of the infrastructure to grow and transport crops. A canal system would fix the water problem and employ thousands. By selecting valuable crops could help sway some growers of poppies.

Since most opiates for medical uses are mostly made synthetically, the logical thing to do would be to make Afghanistan both the saffron and pharmaceutical capitals of the world. Then the drug lords would be replaced with corporate criminals. The world would be a better place and we all will get inexpensively made drugs. That and just think what might be accomplished for fine Afghanistan heroin when old-world growing techniques meet modern cultivation technologies

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