India, Oct. 3 -- The cold desert region of Ladakh is set to grow its own variety of saffron and give tough competition to Kashmir's saffron growers.

Buoyed by the stupendous success of the Lilium flower fields in Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has undertaken another agricultural diversification exercise of growing saffron in the cold desert of Ladakh.

The UT administration has planted nearly 800 kg corms (90,000 nos.) of premium Iranian saffron plants over nearly 4000 square meters of land, which was earlier barren and has been recently restored and rejuvenated, as part of Project Him Sarovar,

Agriculture experts said these saffron corms are expected to produce a good quantity of saffron in the coming season.

The initi...