Herat Woman Sets Up Saffron Production Centre, Creates Jobs

KABUL (Pajhwok): Ariana Rahmani, a woman trained in saffron processing, has established a saffron production and processing centre in western Herat province, achieving self-sufficiency and creating job opportunities for over 600 women, both directly and indirectly.

However, she urges the government and the international community to support women working in the saffron sector and provide them with job opportunities in other agricultural fields because in the saffron sector, women have to work for two months only per year as saffron is harvested once annually.

According to the Afghanistan National Saffron Union, there are currently 70,000 women working in the saffron sector in Herat province.

From training to creating a saffron distribution centre

Ariana Rahmani, 37, the founder of the“Ariana Saffron Distribution and Processing Centre” in Herat, explained in an interview with Pajhwok Afghan News that eight years ago, after receiving training in saffron processing, she decided to work in this field.

She added initially, she began saffron processing with an investment of 10,000 afghanis by renting saffron fields from farmers and working with a few other women to separate saffron from the flowers.

At the beginning, they used traditional methods, but over time, she managed to purchase modern equipment, and now they dry saffron using professional techniques.

Rahmani is pleased with the success of her business, saying that currently, during the saffron harvest season, 10 women are directly employed in processing and packaging, while 600 women are indirectly employed in saffron collection and flower cleaning.

She noted that five years ago, her business started thriving due to good saffron harvests. However, in the past two years, her business suffered due to extreme heat, which reduced saffron yields.

Rahmani explained that saffron grows best in moderate weather.

“Five years ago, we processed up to 18 tonnes of saffron annually, but in the last two years, this has decreased to three tonnes,” she said.

She called on the government and the international community to invest more in saffron cultivation and processing to increase production levels, ensuring that women working in the saffron sector can secure continuous employment.

According to Rahmani, since saffron is harvested only once a year, these women only have work for two months annually.

Women working in saffron flower harvesting

Negin Asmati, who started working at the“Ariana Saffron Distribution and Processing Centre” five years ago, said she works in saffron flower harvesting and cleaning, earning a monthly salary of 7,000 afghanis.

She is happy to have received training in this field and to have a job opportunity, but hopes the industry will expand so that women can have year-round employment.

She added that because saffron is only harvested once a year, women do not have continuous work. If they were offered training in other agricultural fields, they could work throughout the year.

Asmati underlined that women wore special clothing and gloves while harvesting saffron and were highly focused when separating saffron threads from the flowers.

Meanwhile, Sanaz Hamidi, a resident of Ghorian district in Herat, who was previously a school student, now works at the centre.

She is delighted with the job opportunity provided to her and urges officials to expand saffron production, processing, and cultivation.

80,000 women work in the saffron sector across the country

Haji Mohammad Ibrahim Adil, head of the Afghanistan National Saffron Union, told Pajhwok that in Herat province, 95 percent of saffron-related tasks, such as flower harvesting, processing, and packaging, are carried out by women, while men mainly work in saffron cultivation and irrigation.

He stated that currently, 80,000 women across the country are employed in this field, with 70,000 of them based in Herat province.

According to Adil, this year's saffron harvest in Herat is expected to exceed 40 tonnes, compared to 32 tonnes last year.

Experts: Women play crucial role in saffron production

Prof. Dr. Hakimullah Amini, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Parwan, described saffron as“red gold” and stated that with further work in this field, there will be an increasing need for skilled labour.

He emphasised the important role women play in saffron flower harvesting and explained that in Herat province and other parts of the country, women contribute significantly to various stages of saffron cultivation and harvesting.

“Saffron flower harvesting usually takes place early in the morning to preserve the quality of the product. Women perform this task with great care and speed. The most important part of saffron is separating the red stigmas from the flowers, which requires precision and skill, and this task is typically performed by women,” he said.

Dr. Khalid Joya, another agricultural expert, also recognised the importance of women's role in saffron production and stressed that working in this field requires attention to detail, skill, and strength-qualities that women possess.

He added that women working in saffron can help reduce poverty, improve food security, and contribute to household economies.

Joya called for the government to increase saffron cultivation, establish factories, and expand training programmes for farmers and women in this field to enhance saffron production and create more job opportunities for women.

Each year, 95 percent of Afghanistan's saffron produced in Herat

Ahmad Irfan, head of the statistics and information department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock in Herat, said,“In the saffron processing, packaging, and collection sector, we have data indicating that between 60,000 and 70,000 women in Herat province, particularly in Ghorian, Pashtun Zarghun, Injil, Guzara, and Zinda Jan districts, are employed.”

He said that Afghanistan produces between 30 to 40 tonnes of saffron annually, with more than 95 percent of it produced in Herat.

Irfan highlighted the significant role of women in saffron processing, noting,“Saffron is a delicate task in agriculture, and apart from women, no one else can work in this sector.”

He added,“Fortunately, the Islamic Emirate, along with national and international organisations, is working in the agriculture sector to improve standardisation, processing, and packaging. We hope that in the coming years, this industry will grow further.”

Irfan concluded by stating that efforts are underway to provide job opportunities for more women who are breadwinners for their families.

sa/ma

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