Saffron and Co-Operative in Herat
During the last years many Afghan refugees that fled to Iran have returned to their homes in
Afghanistan. In cooperation with another organisation, Shelter Now gives the returnees a six
month agricultural training course and a Start-up Packet.
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With the direction and support of Shelter Now, approximately 40 families who were without
fields have formed a cooperative and are farming fields that they have leased in common.
The women of these families have begun their own project: the Women´s Garden.
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Besides grain, fruit and vegetables they are also raising the most expensive spice in the
world: Saffron. The Shelter Saffron is of very high quality. You may order yours from the
Shelter Now Germany office in Braunschweig, Germany.
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The farmers are able to earn much more from producing this high quality Saffron as from raising Opium - a real alternative.
Harvest time in late fall: the saffron fields blossom profusely. Everyone helps to pick the flowers.
The women in the cooperative pick the female parts of the flower, the stigma. That’s the saffron.
The farmers proudly present their saffron. Around 200,000 flowers are needed to produce one kilogram (2.2lbs) of saffron.