Dhaka, Nov. 7 -- Kashmir's saffron production has fallen sharply over the past decade as changing weather, urban development and counterfeit products put pressure on farmers and the region's renowned spice trade, reports the BBC.

The production of saffron, often called "red gold" because of its high value, has dropped from eight tonnes in 2010-11 to 2.6 tonnes in 2023-24 across Kashmir and nearby Jammu, Indian government figures show.

The BBC reports that farmers in Kashmir's main saffron-producing area Pampore are struggling with increasingly unpredictable rainfall and longer dry spells.

The crop depends on moisture during August and September, when its underground stems develop and prepare for flowering.

Farmer Mohammad Asif told th...