SRINAGAR: Saffron growers in South Kashmir’s Pampore are raising alarm over extensive damage to their fields caused by porcupines, with farmers warning that the region’s prized crop faces a serious threat if immediate action is not taken.
The crisis has spread across multiple saffron-growing areas, including Patalbagh, Chandhara, Khonibal, and Letapora, where farmers say the animals are repeatedly destroying crops during night hours.
The development is significant as Pampore’s saffron, often referred to as Kashmir’s “red gold,” represents both a key source of livelihood and a cultural symbol of the region.
Farmers said porcupines dig into fields and consume saffron seeds, causing widespread damage that affects future yield.
“We have tried everything—scarecrows, plastic barriers—but they still come at night and destroy the fields,” a farmer said.
They added that pesticides supplied by the horticulture department have offered only temporary relief, with porcupines returning within days and continuing the damage.
“After using the chemicals, they disappear for a short time but come back again. There is no lasting solution,” another grower said.
Farmers warned that large portions of saffron land are now affected, with continuous losses raising fears about the long-term survival of saffron cultivation in the area.
They have appealed to the government to step in with a permanent solution to control the wildlife threat and protect the crop.
“If this continues, saffron fields in Pampore will disappear,” a farmer said. (KNT)
