Written by: Muhammad Daud Khan, Incharge Pakhtunkhwa Radio Kurrum, DGIPR.

BOONI, Pakistan: On a crisp October morning in the highlands of Mastuj Valley — some 35 kilometres northeast of Booni, the district headquarters of Upper Chitral — 42-year-old Hajira Kamal stoops over a patch of freshly turned soil.

Her hands, hardened by years of coaxing life out of wheat and maize, now cradle something entirely new — delicate saffron corms, each one a tiny promise wrapped in earth.

She presses them gently into the earth, her every move as careful as threading a needle, while the autumn wind whistles through the terraced fields, carrying whispers of change.

“We were guided by the Agriculture Department to prepare our land properly,” Hajira says, her voice calm but firm. “Later, in Booni, we attended a six-hour training session where we learned every step from planting to harvesting.”

For Hajira, this is more than just another crop — it is a leap of faith. She is among the first women farmers in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to join a new provincial government’s initiative to sow the seeds of saffron, the world’s most expensive spice.

In our villages, women work in the fields every day, but no one acknowledges us. This project has brought us into the picture. It’s not just about money; it’s about recognition.” – Hajir Kamal, a grower

To her, the small purple flowers that will soon bloom in these remote valleys symbolise both livelihood and liberation — a quiet revolution taking root in the mountains, where tradition and transformation now share the same soil.

Turning soil into gold

According to the National Disaster and Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) — a federal organisation focusing on making Pakistan climate-resilient — Crocus sativus, commonly known as saffron or zaffron, has long been prized for its brilliant crimson hue, sweet aroma, and medicinal magic.

Each saffron thread is actually the dried stigma of the flower, a tiny filament plucked by hand and dried with painstaking care. It takes roughly 75,000 blossoms to yield just one pound of saffron — proof that every gram truly weighs its worth in gold.

The crop is planted in September and October, when farmers bury corms weighing 10 to 20 grams in well-drained, sunlit soil.

Within 70 to 90 days, the first blooms appear. Each corm can yield three to five blossoms, and an acre of land can produce one or two kilograms of dried saffron threads.

With prices ranging from Rs 300,000 to Rs 500,000 per kilogram — or even higher for premium saffron varieties — saffron stands as one of the most valuable crops on earth. No wonder it is called “red gold.”

Recognising its potential, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government launched a Rs 500 million, three-year programme in 2024 to introduce saffron cultivation across 21 districts.

Part of the Annual Development Programme, the project aims to diversify agriculture, reduce dependence on low-value staples, and empower small-scale farmers — especially women — to tap into high-income markets.

After this training, we’ll start planting saffron. We expect a good harvest this year.” – Zahir Ali, a farmer

The Agriculture Department distributes free saffron bulbs in areas where the climate is naturally suitable for the crop. The goal is to make saffron a cash crop that can help farmers turn the tide of fortune.

Under this initiative, saffron cultivation has been introduced in Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Bajaur, Malakand, Upper Swat, Lower Swat, Shangla, Buner, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Haripur, Swabi, Hangu, Khyber, Kurram, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan — a trail of red gold stretching across the province.

From Booni to Parachinar

Across the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, similar scenes are unfolding one after another.

In Parachinar, the administrative headquarters of Kurram district bordering Afghanistan, dozens of farmers gather for hands-on training on saffron cultivation. Among them is Zahir Ali, 45, who travelled from a nearby village to attend.

“After this training, we’ll start planting saffron. We expect a good harvest this year,” Ali says, his optimism as bright as the flowers he hopes to grow.

According to Fayyaz Ali Jan, Director of Agriculture Extension in Kurram, the region’s climate is tailor-made for saffron.

“All mountain areas of Kurram are suitable for saffron cultivation. The British first experimented with saffron here. In 2021, we planted it experimentally on two kanals in Pewar and it succeeded,” Jan says.

This is a smart crop for our geography. The first two weeks of October are ideal for planting, and we’ve already trained farmers to follow proper methods. If the farmers follow our instructions, it could become a major source of income.” – Dr Iftikhar Ahmed, Director of Agriculture

This year alone, saffron will be cultivated on 105 acres in Kurram. “We’ve already received seed bulbs for 28 kanals. More are on the way. We expect an excellent harvest,” he says.

For farmers like Zahir Ali, saffron offers a chance to break free from the cycle of low returns tied to traditional crops. But for women like Hajira Kamal, it means something even deeper — visibility and validation.

“In our villages, women work in the fields every day, but no one acknowledges us. This project has brought us into the picture. It’s not just about money; it’s about recognition,” Hajira says.

A global saffron race

Globally, saffron remains a high-stakes but high-reward trade. In Iran and Afghanistan, women play a central role — from planting and plucking to drying and grading.

Iran still wears the crown, exporting $95.5 million worth of saffron in 2024 — roughly 38 per cent of global sales, according to World’s Top Export, an independent trade and research platform.

Afghanistan followed with $60.4 million, while Spain, the Netherlands, and France rounded out the top five exporters.

Pakistan, meanwhile, remains on the sidelines — importing most of its saffron from Iran and Afghanistan, both formally and informally.

Experts believe homegrown cultivation could change the game, reducing dependence and even opening new doors to experts.

“This is a smart crop for our geography,” says Dr Iftikhar Ahmed, Director of Agriculture in Swat. “The first two weeks of October are ideal for planting, and we’ve already trained farmers to follow proper methods.”

Growing saffron is only half the battle. The real test begins after harvest processing, packaging, and marketing. That’s where Iran and Afghanistan have excelled. Without a well-defined marketing chain, farmers could find themselves between a rock and a hard place.” – Dr Saqib Husain Bangash, a researcher

Dr Ahmed’s team claims to have distributed disease-free bulbs with high germination rates and provided hands-on training to farmers.

“We’re introducing saffron in Swat for the first time,” he says. “If the farmers follow our instructions, it could become a major source of income.”

Weathering the uncertainty

Dr Saqib Husain Bangash, a Singapore-based PhD in agriculture, warns that the road ahead is not a bed of roses. Saffron demands precision — timely irrigation, weeding, and delicate post-harvest care. Most local farmers are still learning. Poor management can ruin a crop’s quality in days.”

He adds that climate change has thrown a spanner in the works. “Erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and warmer winters can disrupt flowering cycles and reduce yields,” Bangash says.

Marketing matters most

Perhaps the biggest hurdle lies not in the soil but in the market. Pakistan currently lacks processing, grading, and packaging facilities — the backbone of a successful saffron industry.

“Growing saffron is only half the battle. The real test begins after harvest processing, packaging, and marketing. That’s where Iran and Afghanistan have excelled,” says Dr. Bangash.

He cautions that without a well-defined marketing chain, farmers could find themselves between a rock and a hard place.

“The government must clearly assess how much saffron Pakistan actually needs. Are we meeting local demand? If production exceeds it, do we have a plan for surplus? A detailed market study is essential.”

Planting seeds of change

Back in Chitral, Hajira Kamal plants the last row of saffron bulbs. She straightens up, wiping the soil off her hands, and surveys her field — the afternoon sun glinting off the snow-capped peaks that seem to nod in quiet approval.

“This is the first time I’ve planted saffron. We’re hopeful. If it succeeds, it will change everything for us,” she says hopefully.

Dr Bangash believes that in the early years, farmers can still earn by selling saffron bulbs — a short-term gain while the wider market takes root. “But the long-term vision must go beyond the field. It must connect the farmer to the world.”