Afghan workers pluck saffron flowers on a farm on November 09, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Around 2500 farmers, in eight provinces, are working on saffron farms for export mostly to India and some European countries. The trade in saffron is estimated to be of an annual value in excess of 200 million USD to Afghanistan. Agricultural produce programs, including Saffron, are being offered to farmers as an alternative to the harvesting of poppies, used in the production of heroin. In western Herat province, which borders Iran, the challenge is to be able to convince farmers of the long term benefits of replacing the growing of poppies with the purple crocus plants whose highly prized stigmas produce the spice used as a seasoning and a coloring agent in cooking.

Afghan workers pluck saffron flowers on a farm in Herat, Afghanistan.

Staves of saffron crocus lay on a table during the saffron harvest on Nov. 08, 2010 near the village of Goriyan in Herat, Afghanistan.