MEET OUR FARMERS IN AFGHANISTAN

BIBI GUL

Bibi Gul is pictured meticulously picking saffron flowers in the field.

Saffron is harvested by hand once a year. The female farmers arrive early in the cold Herat morning to work.

Saffron farming is extremely labor-intensive. Each purple flower has three stigmas that are carefully handpicked. It takes 75,000 flowers to make 1 pound of saffron!

BIBI SHAH

Bibi Shah is a widow who is very grateful for saffron cultivation because it’s one of the only economic opportunities for Afghan women.

Working on the saffron farm has empowered her to take care of her family financially.

She prays that Afghan saffron production will continue to grow and flourish in her community.

NISAR AHMAD JAN

Nisar oversees the saffron farm in the Injil District in Herat along with his seven brothers.

Saffron cultivation provides him a dignified way to support his family and keep his extended family together.

He no longer has to endure the hardship of laboring in Iran for six months out of the year. He can live in Afghanistan with his family all year long.