9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The most expensive spice in the world[br]is saffron, and honestly, for good reason.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It takes a thousand flowers to[br]produce just one ounce,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but now, if you can believe it harvesting,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the magical stuff is getting even[br]more complicated.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
SPICE OF LIFE

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Mohammad) We sow these seeds[br]that we take from the old stock.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
4 or 5-year old seeds.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We take seeds when they have thickened.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Then we distribute and sow them in rows.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Then, by the second year,[br]it starts producing in good numbers.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Flower by flower,[br]this is the world's most expensive spice.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>And Mohammad Yusuf has picked these[br]saffron buds since he was 10 years old</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>on a one-acre farm that's been[br]in his family for generations.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
This is the season of flowers,[br]and we're now collecting them.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Whatever we harvest in in our fate.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Saffron is harvested [br]in a two-week window each fall.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>It only grows at a specific altitude,[br]which in India means Kashmir,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>a territory at the foothills [br]of the Himalayas,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>where about 32,000 people [br]cultivate the spice.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
See, this is a flower.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
When we reach home, [br]we will open and separate it like this.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Those red strings, once dried, [br]sell for up to $4,000 a kilogram,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and a few of those[br]will pay the bills for the year.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We work until late night.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
There is no disturbances at night.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Kashmir saffron is wildly popular</i>[br]<i>across India for its use in basic cuisines,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
*Ayurvedic medicine,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and is a dye,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>which is used for Hindu religious garments[br]and the Indian flag.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Saffron is also the color of[br]the Hindu nationalist movement</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that's pledged its undying support[br]to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>who has long sought more control[br]over Kashmir,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>a majority Muslim area that's dealt with [br]the Pakistani-backed separatist movement</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>for decades.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>In August 2019, [br]Modi changed the Constitution</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>to take away Kashmir's Special Autonomy.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
One nation, one constitution.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>He imposed a lockdown</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and cut off phone [br]and internet services for months</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>to prevent a mass uprising.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>The political lockdown has since[br]been replaced by a COVID-19 one,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>but Kashmiris still haven't gotten [br]their internet freedoms back,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>which has stunted the saffron trade [br]and hit growers hard.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>And on top of all that,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>farmers are facing an additional threat.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Climate change.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Since global warming,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we've been facing a great loss.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Before, we had rain[br]during our times of need.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
But since that rain disappeared,[br]we've been badly affected.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Close to a third of Kashmir saffron fields [br]have disappeared since 1997,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>a crisis which prompted the government [br]to invest 54 million dollars in 2010</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>into reviving the industry.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They dug wells, placed pipes, et cetera,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
by they failed to deliver the water.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Whatever they show,[br]it is far from reality.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>After nine years, only about 15%[br]of the sprinkler systems</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>meant to help farmers have been built.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Though the government has been slow</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>to set up the infrastructure [br]meant to boost production,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>it has come up with a plan[br]to sell future harvests at a better price.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Our saffron qualitatively[br]is the best in the world.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
In terms of aroma, taste, and flavor.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We decided that we'd campaign [br]before the authorities

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that we must get to the GI tag.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>GI stands for "Geographical Indication,"</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>a status the World Trade Organization,[br]gave to Kashmiri saffron in July 2020</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>to certify its superior traits.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Farmers can now get their harvest GI tag</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>at a brand-new government[br]processing facility.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The adulteration which[br]otherwise used to be done

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
or repacking the saffron [br]from the other countries

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
on the name of [br]the Kashmiri saffron will stop,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and it will generate huge revenues[br]and a premium price for the farmers.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Compared to Iranian saffron, [br]which makes up 90% of the world supply,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The kashmiri variant has[br]almost 30%, more croson,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a compound that gives the spice, its[br]Rich, redness pain, relieving properties,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and a taste. So, unique that kashmiri[br]chefs won't stand for using anything else.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Mitchell, longest one in left off, with[br]the icy point, is collectors, fungus.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Yeah. We all will see,[br]you don't talk to no one.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
To which the one culture,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
you much knowledge with Nana in[br]San Jose with Althea costume.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Bilal Ahmed oversees the[br]preparation of wasman,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
traditional feast made for weddings[br]family, gatherings, even funeral.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Saffron is a key ingredient in[br]several main dishes of the meal

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that can stretch for dozens of courses such[br]as you. Let's go on lockdown while Bona

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but I am good idea.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Yeah, but just behind in diamond watches.[br]What PH to use woman, our pH photoshopped.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
A proper wazwan typically requires[br]two to three dozen shafts.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
One ton of meat in about 50[br]grams or $200 worth of saffron.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
But wise ones have been smaller than[br]usual for more than a year. Now,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as the political and pandemic, lockdowns[br]have limited the size of gatherings

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as items argue, most modest language.[br]My mother bought pointer to a pointer.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You wanted more just like went up.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Life in Kashmir isn't just[br]changing because of the pandemic,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a political crisis or global warming,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the kids who grew up here are[br]now making different choices

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
looking for opportunities outside the[br]saffron fields and the kitchens of

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
their Homeland for Chef Ahmed,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that means working harder

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to keep his culture thriving guys[br]alone while you go little buddy.