Srinagar, Nov. 3 -- A crop that once defined Kashmir now survives through constant intervention. Every season brings fresh reviews, new targets and renewed assurances, yet the central question remains unchanged: can saffron cultivation provide a stable future for those who grow it? The answer will depend less on announcements and more on whether policies deliver results where it matters most, in the fields of Pampore and beyond.

Saffron is more than an agricultural product in Kashmir as it is linked to the region's economy, identity and rural livelihoods. For generations, families have cultivated the crop across the saffron belt, building a reputation that has given Kashmir a place on the global map. Yet the sector has spent years confro...