Saffron production depends on rainfall: Empirical evidence from Jammu & Kashmir

Saffron is an important cash crop cultivated in rainfed condition in Jammu & Kashmir. This paper attempts to study the production response to quantum of rainfall using the time series data for the period of 1990–2017. Daily gridded rainfall data (0.25°x0.25°) were extracted from IMD, Pune for 119 stations lying in between 74⁰E to 76.5⁰E longitude and 32.5⁰N to 35⁰N latitude. The study revealed August and October rainfalls have strong linear positive relationship with saffron production. The pre-monsoon rainfall also positively effects the saffron production in the state. Evidences of low rainfall and droughts during pre-monsoon season and October in the state, necessitates the irrigation facilities in those months to stabilize the production of saffron.