Editorial photo #12972268 Economy, Business and Finance
Kashmiri Saffron Declines By Nearly 90%
Syed Zeyahudin, 85, a Kashmiri saffron farmer, inspects his saffron fields, usually covered in saffron at this time of the year, in Pampore, south of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 9, 2025. The production of the world-famous Kashmiri saffron, also known as red gold, witnesses a steep decline over the past decade. Farmers say they see a 90% drop in crop production this year, blaming climate change, urbanization, and government negligence. Known for its superior quality in the global saffron market, Kashmiri saffron is the world's most expensive spice and has been part of the region's culture and economy for more than 3,000 years. (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto)
