# Kashmir saffron corms smuggled as yields plummet, area shrinks 2026-08-15T01:03:17+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet In August 2025, police seized 150 kg of saffron corms near Awantipora and arrested four people. The corms are being smuggled out of Kashmir to states such as Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, lured by prices of Rs 1.5-1.7 lakh per 100 kg. Last year, yields fell to about 10% of normal levels, and the area under saffron has dropped 35% since 1996-97 to 3,715 hectares, according to official data. Some farmers are shifting to apple cultivation. The government restricts movement under the Saffron Act, 2007, and has proposed establishing seed multiplication nurseries to conserve planting material. ## Coverage - thehindubusinessline.com Tags: Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir, Pampore, saffron Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/kashmir-saffron-corms-smuggled-as-yields-plummet-area-shrinks/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/kashmir-saffron-corms-smuggled-as-yields-plummet-area-shrinks/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.