Jammu, July 7 -- Innovatively and efficiently harness water resources to ensure critical irrigation and soil moisture conservation at the right time;
Protect emerging saffron flowers from untimely rains and other forms of precipitation at harvest time;
Adopt integrated pest and disease management practices; and
Adopt scientific management of seed-corms and flower harvests to ensure quality and purity of saffron.
Saffron seed corms don't need much water during their dormancy (rest) period in summers (June to end of September). However, when corms start rooting and sprouting, but the soils are dry with no rain forecast, watering becomes a must.
During periods of drought from March to June, irrigation @ 15mm twice a week is highly recomme...