Kesar prices rise 10% on crop loss

Kesar (saffron) prices have risen by more than 10 per cent as compared with last year's prices on crop damages owing to heavy rains in Kashmir by the end of October. Kashmir Kesar was up at Rs 38 a kg. In Mumbai, the price has risen to around Rs 44 per kg.

Lachha Kesar was at Rs 34-35 per kg while the price of Mogra Kesar stood at Rs 44 per kg. According to the estimates, about 20 tonne of kesar is produced in Kashmir. Iran is the largest producer of kesar with the production pegged at around 200 tonne per annum. However, Kashmir Kesar is considered to be of superior quality.

Most of the Iran Kesar is taken to Spain and from there it is exported to other parts of the world as Spain Kesar, said traders here. Iran Kesar is quoted at around US $600 there and the price of what is sold as Spain Kesar is almost five times that of Iran Kesar, they said.

Iran Kesar is also mixed with Kashmir Kesar to bring the prices down. There are different varieties of Iran Kesar and their qualities and prices vary accordingly.

Kesar mixing is not something new. Earlier, in India, maize fibers were mixed with Kesar. Nowadays, butter paper is also mixed with kesar using some thickening agents and perfumes and is sold at Rs 200 to 300 per kg.

Most of the laboratories are not equipped enough to check the quality of kesar. The report they give just say that it failed in a certain test. According to traders, the lab reports should reflect in no uncertain words the fact that they are adulterated.