Bihar Cracks Saffron Code: World's Costliest Spice Now Grown Outside Kashmir!

• Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, has successfully developed a method to cultivate saffron, traditionally exclusive to Kashmir, using indoor technology.
• This breakthrough involves in vitro technology and plant tissue culture, allowing saffron to grow in controlled glass chambers by regulating temperature.
• The innovation, led by Vice-Chancellor Dr DR Singh and researcher Dr Anil Singh, has been granted a patent by the Government of India.
• The new method enables year-round saffron cultivation, reducing the maturity period to 90-110 days, independent of seasonal climate.
• BAU plans to provide planting material and training to farmers, opening new high-value opportunities for agricultural income in Bihar.

Why It Matters: Bihar Agricultural University has patented a method to grow saffron indoors, revolutionizing its cultivation beyond Kashmir.