Nearly 200 hectares under the cultivation of Marand saffron
Ali Sayadi, director of Marand Agricultural Jihad, regarding the saffron cultivation situation in the city, says: Until last year, 184 hectares of Marand lands were under Marand saffron cultivation, but this year it has reached 194 hectares; The average yield of Marand saffron is seven kilograms per hectare and the index farms have a harvest of up to 12 kilograms.
He adds: 1000 kg of saffron is produced annually in Marand, but we have not had exports to other countries from this city so far.
He stated that Marand is the first in the province in terms of saffron production, he said: The first saffron crop of East Azerbaijan is cultivated in the city of Bonab Marand and this city is the center of saffron in the northwest of the country.
Regarding the market for this product, Sayadi says: The saffron retail market is not in a bad situation, but the wholesale is even lower in the country due to the costs incurred, and the product is usually sold at a lower price.
He said that the only way to support saffron growers is to expand the saffron packaging industry, adding: Three types of saffron brands have been purchased for Marand city, but this city is not very successful in foreign exports, because from the beginning of saffron cultivation in the region, The product was sold as a whole flower and there was usually no desire to create a packaging industry.
He continues: Now that the number of farms under cultivation is increasing and the amount of production is increasing every year, it is necessary to pay attention to the packaging industry and set up a factory in the region of saffron.
The director of Marand Agricultural Jihad, stating that 40% of the city’s saffron is packaged and 60% is sold in bulk, says: Marand has the capacity to expand saffron cultivation and due to low water consumption, we recommend farmers to cultivate this crop. But it must be taken into account that saffron harvest requires a high level of labor.