Saffron from Kashmir to Kodaikanal - A Groundbreaker in Kodaikanal Agriculture & its Real Estates

Kodaikanal is famous for cultivation of English vegetables like Carrot, unique fruits like Avakoda (popularly known as Butter fruit), cash crops like pepper and exotic flower ‘Kurinji’ which flourish once in 12 years. The farmers in Kodaikanal always keep exploring the opportunities of cultivating other cash crops, exotic fruits and spices making use of the region’s chill climate advantage.

A group of Ooty farmers already brought high quality apple saplings from Kashmir and succeeded in cultivating it. Similarly, a former from Kodaikanal took initiative and explored the opportunity to cultivate Saffron which is the ‘most expensive spices in the world’ – A Saffron corm produces maximum three flowers from which Saffron threads are collected. The entire process from cultivation till harvesting of Saffron threads made manually and several thousands of blossoms are required to produce one ounce of Saffron that is why Saffron is a high value low volume spice comparing to others.

Iran is the largest producer of Saffron in the world followed by the Kashmir region in India. Out of which, Kashmir saffron is rated as high quality due to rich read colour and stronger aroma. There is an ever increasing demand for Saffron across the globe in diverse industries like medical, cosmetic, food, dye, etc and for religious purposes. On the other hand, Saffron cultivation in Kashmir region dropped 20% in last couple of decades. Government took initiative in the form of ‘National Saffron Mission’ which encourage cultivation of Saffron in India beyond Jammu & Kashmir state.

The Kodaikanal former visited Kashmir and brought corms of the Saffron crocus from the Central Institute of Temperature Horticulture, Srinagar about eight years back and started cultivating them in Polyhouses at Kavunji, Mannavanur region of Kodaikanal. He successfully multiplied corms which is a crucial stage, cultivated Saffron crocus, collected Saffron from the flowers in a small scale and established the feasibility.

Saffron crop can tolerate subzero temperature but not hot weather – Kodaikanal being an ideal location with suitable climate and soil condition, Saffron flourished here. Due to the unbelievable return on investment from Saffron cultivation, considerable farmers in this region of Kodaikanal may migrate to Saffron cultivation in the near future and many from plains will tend to buy land in Kodaikanal to venture into this new agricultural scope. Since Saffron cultivation is temperature sensitive, neither all the area around Kodaikanal nor other hill stations with different altitude and condition may suit for it.

The introduction of saffron cultivation represents a notable agricultural development that may influence interest in agricultural land in parts of Kodaikanal. At the time of writing, the reported market value of agricultural land in the Kavunji–Mannavanur region was approximately ₹30–40 lakh per acre, depending on factors such as road access, soil conditions and water availability. Actual property prices and future movements may vary according to the property, market conditions, permitted use and other relevant factors.

Hills & Wills is an online property-advertising platform dedicated exclusively to hill-station properties across India, including Kodaikanal. Interested users can search, view and compare advertised property information and connect directly with the respective property owners or other advertisers. Eligible property owners and other authorised advertisers can post a property advertisement under the available listing plans, subject to the platform’s terms and applicable legal requirements. Project advertisements must include the applicable RERA registration particulars or a valid basis for RERA exemption. Users should independently verify the advertiser, property particulars, title, land classification, permitted use, applicable restrictions and required approvals before proceeding.

Real estate boom at plains mainly depend on infrastructure development!

Whereas Real estate boom in hilly regions depend on tourism growth and agriculture innovations!!

Agricultural innovations in hill regions occur infrequently, as illustrated by the historical introduction of tea cultivation in Ooty. The successful introduction of saffron cultivation in Kodaikanal is presently at a nascent stage and may become one of several factors influencing future interest in agricultural land. Its actual effect on cultivation, demand and property prices will depend on climatic suitability, commercial viability, applicable regulations and prevailing market conditions.

Henceforth Kodaikanal will be famous for two purple flowers ‘Kurinji’ and ‘Saffron’.