From barren desert to red gold: Saffron cultivation debuts in Ladakh

In a first for the high-altitude cold desert of Ladakh, a newly restored patch of barren land in Leh is set to bloom with high-value saffron. Building on recent floriculture trials with Lilium and Gladiolus, the Union Territory Administration has now launched a pilot project to introduce the spice to the region's agricultural landscape.

Approximately 800 kilograms of top-tier Iranian saffron corms—totalling 90,000 units—have been planted over 4,000 square meters at Spituk Pharka, following directions from the Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. If successful, the trial will establish a new economic avenue for cold-desert farming while expanding India's domestic saffron footprint.

The cultivation site sits within an 800-acre land restoration zone managed under Project Him Sarovar. Agriculture experts selected corms meeting strict dimensions (10+ grams in weight and 8–10 cm in circumference) to maximize yield potential under Leh’s unique agro-climatic conditions.


To make the arid soil arable, excess water diverted from the newly restored Igoo–Phey irrigation canal is being channeled across the land, supported by four adjacent storage ponds with a combined capacity of 24 million liters.

The project aims to demonstrate that degraded desert terrain can be reclaimed for high-value commercial agriculture, offering local farmers, youth, and Self-Help Groups a lucrative new source of income. Saffron commands premium market prices, with neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir currently producing nearly 90 percent of India’s domestic supply.

“Our endeavour is to transform degraded and barren land into productive assets and create new opportunities for our farmers,” LG Saxena said. “The introduction of saffron is another important experiment in crop diversification, which can open a new avenue for enhancing farmers’ incomes.”