The saffron crop introduced to several Ghazni districts last year has had "considerable" harvest, officials of the provincial agricultural department said.
Officials touted the crop's one kilogram per acre yield, expressing optimism about saffron's prospects in the province. Over 4.5 tons of saffron bulbs have been distributed to farmers in Jeghatu, Khawaja Omari, Deh Yak and Gilan districts, with an eye toward further promotion of the crop.
"We are trying to identify the problems in the area in order to pave the way for saffron's cultivation in Ghazni and beyond," said Hakam Khan Habibi, promotion department chief at the Agriculture Ministry.
Afghanistan's mild to cold winters and relatively dry summers are ideal for saffron cultivation. Saffron, dubbed as the world's most expensive spice, offers good financial prospects for farmers.
The government and international donors have been promoting saffron as an alternative to opium poppy, but with little success. Afghanistan is the largest producer of opium poppy, according to UN figures.
However, saffron cultivation efforts have been moderately successful in Herat, bordering Iran, where saffron is a major agricultural product.