Afghan farmers turn to saffron as replacement for their opium crops

The Sunday Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 04/04/04 | Hamida Ghafour

[Alia]

What a hoot! All liberal cuisine-ists in CA insist upon saffron! It's their dime, kewl!

[VadeRetro]

I'd better do it first.

I'm just mad about Saffron!
She's just mad about me.
I'm-a just-a mad about Saffrawn ...

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[In_25_words_or_less]

Unfortunately, saffron dens are sure to spring up.

[VadeRetro]

The real words, some of which I had never correctly guessed.

[Tribune7]

Damn! The only reason I clicked on this thread was to do that :-)

[VadeRetro]

Great minds, same gutters.

[Rebelbase]

They're gonna go bankrupt if they keep growing saffron. I just smoked a bowl and got nothing but a headache.

[Tribune7]

:-)

[Alia]

rofl!!!!! During the halcyon days of the 60s and 70s, during "hard-up" times, libs promoted the use of Kitchen organics "in lieu of". Like, cloves, oregano. Poor kids. Sick as dawgs after these "herbal" adventures.

[In_25_words_or_less]

They're gonna go bankrupt if they keep growing saffron. I just smoked a bowl and got nothing but a headache.

I think I heard on the Food Network that you're supposed to add it to rice first.

I'm still trying to figure out how to smoke salmon. They won't stay lit.

[In_25_words_or_less]

Like, cloves, oregano

And banana peels. Very risky because you could step on one and commit broad humor.

[ApplegateRanch]

The monetary figures and values given in the article are meaningless.

The salient value is dollars/acre vs cost/acre to grow for each crop, not just dollars per pound data.

The second necessary, but not listed, number is net value, post-tax, for the farmer's output. Poppie sap is almost without a doubt not declared, and not taxed or subjected to duties; how does that affect the farmer's year-end bottom line?

Third, in Britain the price is for a dried, processeed, packaged gram of saffron; but the article fails to state if the farmer's sales price is for fresh or dried.

I am glad to see them growing something besides heroin precursors, but I would also like to know what the econimic benefit to the farmer actually is. That is what will determine whether they continue in the new crops.

[Servant of the 9]

Both are crops that bring very high prices and require very little land and a very intensive hand cultivation. It's a natural fit.

So9

[McGavin999]

What a great idea!!!! I think I'll start asking for Afghan saffron. All you have to do at gormet stores is suggest something is superior and everyone in the store will be talking about it.

[McGavin999]

Unfortunately, saffron dens are sure to spring up.

Yeah, that darned yellow rice is addicting isn't it? What's worse is the saffron flavored ice cream you get at Persian restaurants. THAT'S a killer!!!!

[McGavin999]

The article said that it's a hundred dollars a year less than poppies. That's not much considering the peace and quiet you get in your life by not dealing with the druglords. You also don't have to worry about the govt coming in and wiping out your entire crop for the year.

[In_25_words_or_less]

That's not much considering the peace and quiet you get in your life by not dealing with the druglords.

Afghan druglords . . . that's an odd thought. Wonder what they sound like . . .

"Say hello to my leetle ulululululululululu!"

[In_25_words_or_less]

Do any afghans knit . . . afghans? Seems like it would be a natural fit.