Context:
Kashmir’s saffron production takes a hit because of pollution generated by the cement industry.
Kashmiri Saffron:
- Features- longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, high quantity of crocin (coloring strength) and picrocrocin (bitterness).
- Other names- referred to as ‘bahukam’, in ancient Sanskrit literature
- Soil- Karewa (Highlands)
- Leading Producer- Iran
- Uses- Cosmetics, medicinal purposes and Kashmiri cuisine
- Important Types- Lachha Saffron, Mongra Saffron and Guchhi Saffron
- Uniqueness- only saffron in the world grown at an altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m Above Mean Sea Level
- Got GI Tag in 2020
Source: Down To Earth
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
Region Well-known for the production of
1. Kinnaur Arecanut
2. Mewat Mango
3. Coromandel Soya bean
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) NoneAnswer: (d)
Explanation:
Pair 1 is incorrect. Kinnaur is in Himachal Pradesh. Major Arecanut growing crops are in the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and West Bengal.Pair 2 is incorrect. Mewat is in Haryana. Mango is commercially cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and UttarakhandPair 3 is incorrect. Leading states of Soyabean are Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh that are not Coromandel Coast
