Page 7 - Landscape SA 101

FEATURE

A saffron corm. Each corm forms new
bulbs and this is how the plant multiplies
Spacing also depends on how often This will be done through an outgrower (or
grubbing is done – this refers to the contract grower) system, based on three
complete removal of the corms from the year contracts with farmers. Engelbrecht
ground to separate the mother corms and explains: “We supply the farmers with our
the cormlets that have been formed. saffron corms (bulbs) which they then
plant and cultivate before harvesting the
Weeding should be done manually as saffron threads and selling the annual
machine weeding can harm the bulbs. crop back to us. The corms multiply
underground on average about three
Once the blooms are harvested, they are times per year, so if one corm is planted
brought to a stripping area where the in year one, there will be on average three
red parts of the stigmas or threads are corms in year two, nine in year three, 27 in
very carefully removed by hand. After year four, and so on.”
stripping, drying, also known as toasting,
is undertaken. Toasting causes the threads The corms are sold back to Saffricon after
to reduce in size and weight and care year three, hence the farmers’ take-up is
should be taken not over-dry them as guaranteed and they have a double income
this reduces their quality and price. When potential from the annual saffron harvest as
dried, the threads become a vivid, dark red well as from the multiplied corms.
with deep orange tips. They then need to
be cooled, wrapped in foil or tissue and Saffricon has started marketing the
placed in airtight jars. They should be outgrower system to prospective saffron
stored in a cool, dark place for 30 days, farmers and expects to have built sufficient
after which they will be ready for use. corm stock by 2022 to start gaining
momentum. Engelbrecht says that this
Saffricon year there is limited corm stock available
and only a few outgrowers will be supplied
Bennie Engelbrecht is the founder and with the product.
director of Saffricon, a South African
farming operation in the Northern Cape Corne Liebenberg, marketing director
which, for a few years, has been perfecting of Laeveld Agrochem (LAC), says that as
the art of cultivating saffron under local a partner of Saffricon, he foresees huge
conditions. They have now reached the potential for saffron farming in South
stage of opening up this opportunity to Africa. He believes it offers an excellent
other prospective farmers. opportunity for existing commercial
farmers as well as for the development of
With plans in place for South Africa to small-scale emerging farmers and as such,
become a significant player in the farming will assist in addressing the country’s high
and exporting of saffron, this could unemployment.
Cultivation provide a valuable source of income,
while also assisting small scale, emerging LAC wants to assist and uplift as much
Since the plant is propagated in different farmers. It also offers existing commercial as possible and believes that the saffron
parts of the world, planting techniques differ farmers an opportunity to diversify, venture offers many farmers currently
depending on climate, type of soil, depth especially considering changing weather under pressure an alternative option, at
of planting and the spacing of the corms. patterns, market trends and other aspects the same time giving small scale farmers
It grows best in humus-rich, well-drained that impact on their existing operations. an opportunity with solid prospects. “The
soil but can also be grown in dry or semi-
dry soil types. If planted in wet or semi-wet
soil types, the land must be well drained to
prevent the corms from rotting or becoming
infected during periods of wet weather.

When planting saffron for the first time, a
virgin patch of land should be used where
no other tubers or saffron corms have
been planted previously. The planting
beds should be loose and well-aired, with
organic fertiliser incorporated. Planting
corms on raised beds is ideal to ensure
good drainage and the crocuses prefer
sunny, dry, open fields rather than shade.
Generally, corms should be planted
7-15cm deep into the soil following the
‘row system’, where each row is ideally 15
to 20cm away from the next. Rows should
be kept raised for drainage and ventilation
and there should be enough space for a
path in between each row for weeding, The ‘row’ system is followed when planting the corms
watering and harvesting.

Landscape SA • Issue 101 2021 5