Jomein azafrán: Los agricultores sufren, los distribuidores se benefician
Las personas involucradas en el cultivo del azafrán en Jomein en Centroamérica (Markazi) Provincia creen que la producción de azafrán al tiempo que laborioso también es rentable, pero el sufrimiento va a los agricultores, mientras que el beneficio va a los concesionarios.
Hassan Mohammadi, one of the saffron cultivators of Khomein said at the time of harvest prices will drop and for the maintenance of life expenditures the crop is inevitably sold to the dealers and middlemen as a whole.
He said at the time of the harvest which starts in late November the dealers purchase saffron at low price and export the extracted saffron in high volume. Another cultivator, Mohsen Kazemi, said each year hard labor is sustained in saffron cultivation in the city of Khomein but due to lack of support the profit goes to the dealers.
He further remarked that each year he sells bulk saffron in Khorasan where the product is packed and sold in its own packages. He said the quality of Khomein saffron is very high and in case low interest facilities were provided to saffron cultivators in the city they could have made proper marketing and sold the product in suitable packages under Khomein brand.
Ebrahim Hashemi, another cultivator, said each year at the time of saffron harvest we are faced with the problem of marketing and dealers purchase the product at 50 thousand rials per gram and sell it at 85 to 90 thousand rials. He added that this product like wheat should be supported and become subject to guaranteed purchase so that producers will be encouraged and cultivate the product wholeheartedly.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Jihad Director of Khomein said the saffron which is cultivated in the city enjoys high quality with regard to climatic condition but dealers purchase the product at low price and distribute it under a brand different from that of Khomein.
Ahmad Reza Jaafari added that with regard to recent drought in the country it is recommended that cultivation of saffron be replaced with other crops as saffron is not in need of much water.
He noted that saffron cultivators of the city should be integrated and act united and form an association or a company in order to be further supported, adding that about 80 kg of saffron is expected to be harvested in areas of the city where saffron is being cultivated. The city of Khomein is located south of Markazi Province and has a semi-tropical weather, mild winter and hot and dry summer; therefore it has been considered suitable for saffron cultivation.