BELLUNO. They call “red gold” of the Dolomitesit saffrona fine spice originating from Asia Minor and rather unusual, at least in appearance, for a mountain territory like that of Belluno (although favorable for altitude and temperature range).
A project by “high altitude” cultivation started”between 2016 and 2017 from the needs of some small agricultural producers in the Feltrino area expand the variety of your crops“, explains Lidia Maoret, president of the Zafferano Dolomiti Group.
“From Asiago, the first bulbs – continues – on the advice ofagronomist Massimiliano Gnesotto which also deals with training of farmers (currently, I am 50 throughout the province)”.
A agricultural experiment ambitious but above all non invasive which however finds itself having to suffer climate variations. “2023 was a particularly important year for us because it made us understand how climate changes impact cultivation”, says Maoret.
Usually, “the period of flowering corresponds to first days of October – he explains again – but the cultivation (given the high temperatures) started late and we had a 15 day delay”.
A harvest, as regards last year, put to the test by the heat. “Saffron has a life cycle that cannot be forced” – recalls Maoret – and for this very reason, having to adapt to temperatures, it becomes “sentinel of climate change”.
Also important consistency of the soil: “in addition to aadequate reclamation, it is necessary that this is well drained,” he adds. “The bulbs, planted in the second half of August until mid-September”, must not be subject to water stagnation.
The cultivation of saffron “is a work of patience, done entirely by hand – remember – a way of doing agriculture that does not take anything away from the land since it does not exploit it intensively, avoiding the use of pesticides”.
The surrender is therefore precious: “369 gramsThe overall harvest of 2023” – he adds, clarifying how this data refers “to the packaged product, without taking into account any private use of saffron by farmers”.
Compared to 2022when they were registered 387 grams, there production was slightly lower; a clear signal for growers in the Belluno area of the impact of climate change on the quantity of the final harvest.
