Investigation of alternative cultivation techniques
The manpower required for harvesting the flowers, separating and drying the pistils represents an obstacle that leaves limited profit margins for farmers. The difficulty is twofold: on one hand there are high labour costs; on the other, the fatigue of working in the field, bent over for hours exposed to sun, wind or rain.
Today Saffron cultivation takes place following the same methods used by our ancestors centuries ago: all manual processing on small land plots, often managed by family-run companies, very divided over the territory.
Despite the undisputed value of the spice, the evolution of Saffron cultivation has been limited in comparison to other intensive horticultural crops where, conversely, mechanization has allowed developments that opened new commercial horizons.
Few attempts to mechanize Saffron operations were partially crowned with success, although surrounded by an aura of scepticism that has prevented their spread.
Project Objectives
- Study the mechanization of Saffron cultivation and develop prototypes based on farmers know-how and specific requests. To date, the prototype for the separation of floral pieces and the collection of pistils already exists. The prototype needs further improvement and needs to gain speed, yet it represents an important step forward for the growth and spread of Saffron cultivation in the new millennium.
Collaboration
Project in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture of Sassari University.
