require consultancy for saffron farming

[pratik8343]

Dear all

I have 20 acre of land in gujarat and i am planning to go for saffron farming so i need a consultancy for the same.....and we are also planing to have a centralized Ac green house for saffron farming so please all help me and share your knowledge and suggests me is it possible in gujarat or not.........

 

[manojsinghchandel]

Saffron

Saffron thrives best in warm sub-tropical climate. In Spain, it is grown in dry temperate conditions with an annual rainfall below 40 cm. It grows at an elevation of 2000 mtrs MSL. Photoperiod exerts a considerable influence in the flowering of saffron. An optimum period of 11 hours illumination is desirable. Unusually low temperature coupled with high humidity during flowering season affects flowering of the crop. Spring rains boost production of new corms. Slightly acidic to neutral, gravelly, loamy, sandy soils are suitable for saffron cultivation.

Cool dry climate and rich soil with excellent drainage and organic content provide the ideal environment for saffron cultivation. The flowering period starts during middle or late October and lasts till mid November. The flowers are essentially plucked before the crack of dawn, so that the strands are not exposed to sunlight. The flowers are cleaned and the style and stigmas are separated from perianth. It needs about 150000 crocus flowers and 40 man-hours to produce one-kg saffron.

See whether you can provide such conditions in climatic controlled green house (I think it will be too costly, if yes, than try for small scale as pilot initially.

Regds