Saffron Exports Boom, Ministry Says

KABUL, November 19 (Quqnoos): The Afghan saffron market now rivals Iran as one of the region's largest exporters, as the amount of saffron produced has risen by about 30%, the Ministry of Agriculture says.

Although the saffron plant is cultivated in only 10 of the country’s provinces, Afghanistan now rivals Iran as one of the region's largest exporters of the spice.

The Agriculture Ministry says cultivation of the plant has risen dramatically in the last four years.

Afghanistan will grow more than 700kgs of saffron this year in Herat, Maidan Wardak, Logar and Kunduz provinces, figures released by the ministry reveal.

The ministry said the lack of experience among farmers and the traditional techniques used to produce the spice are among the main challenges facing the industry.

The plant was cultivated for the first time in Herat province and has now spread to nine other provinces.