Editing Saffron (section)

=== Afghanistan ===
Saffron has a long history in [[Afghanistan]], with cultivation believed to date back to before [[Alexander the Great]]'s conquest of the Persian Empire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saffron in History: A Deep-Rooted Heritage of Persia and Its Cultural |url=https://saffronice.com/blogs/saffron-value-heritage/saffron-in-history-a-deep-rooted-heritage-of-persia-and-its-cultural-footprint?srsltid=AfmBOorR03CFen8AzsuA0amCITsrAq21xoH9SxnhielibibFkb0G05bf |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Saffronice |language=en}}</ref> Due to prolonged droughts, conflict, and shifts in agricultural focus, saffron farming declined for centuries. Cultivation resumed in the early 2000s as an alternative to [[Papaver somniferum|opium poppy]] farming,<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/07/06/484894669/afghan-governor-wants-government-to-control-poppy-crop |title=Afghan Governor Wants Government To Control Poppy Crop |date=6 July 2016 |medium=Radio broadcast |publisher=NPR |time=0:10 |access-date=11 February 2025 |quote=Afghanistan's poppy production… accounts for more than 91 percent of the world's heroin. |people=David Greene (host, Morning Edition), Hayatullah Hayat (Governor of Helmand Province, Afghanistan), Tom Bowman (reporter), Dianne Feinstein (U.S. Senator, Chair of the Caucus on International Narcotics Control)}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Saffron Manual for Afghanistan |url=http://www.icarda.org/RALFweb/PDFs/SaffronManualForAfghanistan.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909224926/http://www.icarda.org/RALFweb/PDFs/SaffronManualForAfghanistan.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-09-09 }}</ref> supported by international organizations and the Afghan government.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite journal |date=2024-05-23 |title=Afghanistan Saffron and Potential for the Economy: An Overview of International Trade and Domestic Well Being |url=https://arccjournals.com/journal/agricultural-reviews/RF-290 |journal=Agricultural Reviews |language=en |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=297–303 |issn=0253-1496}}</ref> According to Afghanistan’s [[Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock|Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock]], production increased from 20 metric tons in 2022 to 46 metric tons in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghan Saffron Attracts Global Buyers, Secures Million-Dollar Deal |url=https://tolonews.com/business-191530#:~:text=Akhundzada%20Abdul%20Salam%20Jawad,%20spokesperson,valued%20at%20over%20$36%20million. |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=TOLOnews |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghanistan’s Saffron on Media {{!}} AfGOV |url=https://www.mail.gov.af/en/afghanistan%E2%80%99s-saffron-media |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=www.mail.gov.af}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Saffron in Afghanistan |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-product/saffron/reporter/afg |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=The Observatory of Economic Complexity |language=en}}</ref> Key export markets include India, Europe, and the United States, where Afghan saffron is prized for its high quality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-20 |title=ITC - Trade Impact for Good |url=https://www.intracen.org/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=www.intracen.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Quality saffron poised to spice up Afghanistan’s exports (en) {{!}} ITC |url=https://www.intracen.org/es/noticias-y-eventos/noticias/quality-saffron-poised-to-spice-up-afghanistans-exports-en |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=www.intracen.org |language=es}}</ref>

Saffron cultivation contributes significantly to Afghanistan’s economy, supporting thousands of farmers, particularly women. Over 80% of the saffron workforce consists of women, who primarily handle harvesting and processing. The sector has provided employment opportunities for over 40,000 people, playing a role in agricultural sustainability and rural development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saffron Production Rises in Afghanistan |url=https://tolonews.com/business-192377 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=TOLOnews |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=EFE |first=Agencia |date=2024-06-12 |title=Harvesting Gold: Afghan women cultivate hope from saffron strands - EFE |url=https://efe.com/en/other-news/2024-06-12/harvesting-gold-afghan-women-cultivate-hope-from-saffron-strands/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=EFE Noticias |language=en-US}}</ref>

Afghan saffron is known for its deep red color, strong aroma, and high crocin content, a compound that determines color intensity.<ref name=":3" /> It has been ranked among the highest quality saffron varieties in recent years with a 310 Crocin color quality based on ISO 3632.2 standards.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=EFE |first=Agencia |date=2024-06-12 |title=Harvesting Gold: Afghan women cultivate hope from saffron strands - EFE |url=https://efe.com/en/other-news/2024-06-12/harvesting-gold-afghan-women-cultivate-hope-from-saffron-strands/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=EFE Noticias |language=en-US}}</ref>