Huge international market for saffron is predicted
Global Saffron Market to set a High Potential growth of USD 2 Billion by 2027. Saffron Market by Form (Powder, Thread, and Liquid), Application (Textile, Medicine, Cosmetics, and Food), Region, Global industry analysis, market size, share, growth, trends and forecast 2020 to 2027. Usage of saffron threads is high in food industry. Also, saffron threads are highly used in the healthcare sector due to its therapeutic benefits. It is use in the herbal medicines as well.
The saffron market is driven by an increased preferences for saffron over artificial flavourings and colourings, disposable income levels as well as enhanced standard of living. The demand for saffron is rising as it has several therapeutic applications in the pharmaceuticals industry. Saffron contains various antioxidants like B-carotenes, lycopene and zeaxanthin. It acts as immune modulators. Increased population enhanced standard of living and rapid development are driving the market. Increased demand for cleansers, fairness creams and anti-blemish creams are contributing factors to the growth of the market.
In today’s world, the younger generation is consistently gaining interest in nutritious food which is actually booming the demand for healthy lifestyle. Over the past of few years, there has been an increase in number of health –conscious customers across the world. Individuals are involved in adopting a healthy and a lively lifestyle, which has increased the demand for health-oriented food products.
Healthy lifestyle is becoming a traditional way of life that majority has concerns over obesity, food sensitivity, and other people suffering from disease still rise. Hence, with the rise in health and wellness awareness among the population, the demand for healthy food and quality ingredients has increased substantially. Saffron and its products offer protection against harmful UV rays, fights inflammation, reduces pigmentation and helps in healing wounds.
Presently, around 24 thousand farmers are cultivating saffron across most of the provinces in Afghanistan. Herat and Kandahar remain the single largest producer of Afghan saffron. Though in most areas SAFFRON cultivation has replaced the opium, but the farmers are not happy from the unstable market of saffron in Afghanistan. The saffron market is being monopolized by few Iranian companies and businesses. The farmers are not paid enough to make their expenses and women labour wages. Some of the local businesses are linked with these multinational import and export companies who are jointly exploiting the saffron farmers. Saffron has 2,000 years of history in Afghanistan, according to the country’s National Saffron Development Program.
Annually, approximately 300 tons of dried and saffron filament and powder are produced in the world, whereas based on climate and soil condition, Afghanistan can produce 50 to 70 tons, according to the program. As of its high value, Afghan saffron is also known as “RED GOLD.”
Cultivation and production of saffron created many jobs for women in the province’s Pashtun Zarghun District, where 80% of those engaged in saffron harvesting, refining and packaging were women. For centuries these Afghan women have been farming side by side with their families. The spokesperson of acting government Zabiullah Mujahid said, “We will soon take positive steps to maximize saffron production and its global marketing.”
“In the past, substandard saffron was smuggled from Iran to Afghanistan for this purpose, and then mixed with Afghan saffron and exported in collusion, but timely action by Afghan authorities greatly improved the situation”, the program said. Actually, the profit didn’t go to the farmers and women labours directly but benefited the international traders and few local businesses.
Hence, THE SPICE CHANGE is paving the path to work with farmer directly through fair chain concept that will stabilize the saffron market prices in Afghanistan and maintain the balance of profit between business, consumer and farmer.
Even though, the lack of inspection, wide corruption in customs of previous administration, no-attention of agricultural institutions including the lack of interest from the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) in the business of SAFFRON were other main challenges.