Tehran, Iran, July 12
By A. Shirazi - Trend:
A member of Iran Saffron Exports Development Fund's board of directors, Farhad Saharkhiz, said Iran needs a new mechanism to export its saffron, stressing that Afghanistan and Spain are turning to two major rivals for the country’s red gold.
“Iran’s export of saffron has not dropped in the past months but issues like foreign currencies and lack of cooperation among Iran's Customs Office and other relevant organizations have limited it,” Saharkhiz told reporters in Mashhad on July 12, IRNA news agency reported.
He added that 75 percent Iran’s saffron is exported to five continents annually and Japan is among the handful of countries that has strict importing regulations and imports the Iranian saffron due to its high quality.
Noting that Iran is the world's largest producer and exporter of saffron, Saharkhiz noted that Afghanistan and Spain are turning to two major rivals for Iran in cultivation and sales of saffron, respectively.
He further called on the government to take the necessary measures and help Iran not to lose its position as the lead supplier of the spice in the world.
Saffron cultivation and harvest is a painstaking process which requires 200,000 strands of crimson crocus blooms to be gingerly picked in the morning to make one kilo for sale.
Much of the crop produced by villagers are bought at knockdown prices by local arbiters who themselves sell it to foreign buyers in large stocks. This means the bulk of the added-value accrues to foreign intermediaries, while the genuine produce barely reaches the end consumer.
Saffron cultivation has a history of more than 3,000 years in Iran, where the reddish, aromatic substance is used to flavor food and pastries, with further application in medicine and cosmetics.
Iranian researchers have produced saffron extract for suppressing cancer, lowering blood pressure and curing depression.