Sceintists rebuff farmer's claims of growing saffron

Palanpur, Apr 8 (UNI) Scientists of Sardar Patel Agricultural University (SDAU) have rebuffed a farmer's claim that he had managed to cultivate saffron in his field and that he was expecting a bumper yield of 16 kg this year.

SDAU research director SBS Tikka and Dr I N Dodiya, who visited the farm of Valjibhai Rudabhai Patel at Jadiya village in Dhanera taluka, about 70 km from here yesterday, said it was 'safflower seed' used to make saffola edible oils and not saffron or 'kesar' as claimed.

Dr Tikka said, ''The crop is not saffron. Saffron is very costly and found in the mountains of Jammu&Kashmir, mainly in Kashmir region. The cultivation process is not only monotonous but also time consuming and costly.'' Patel had claimed that he had cultivated saffron last year and this year he was expecting a crop of 16 kg, thus attaining immediate media attention. Saffron costs Rs 40,000 a kg in the market.

UNI