USMAT, October 4. /Dunyo IA/.   Saffron planting has commenced on new plots of the BMB ZA’FARON plantation in the Bakhmal district of the Jizzakh region, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Total area of the plantation is set to expand from 820 to 900 hectares. Implemented as part of the strategic initiatives to scale up the production of medicinal plants, the project envisages a further increase in the area of saffron plantations in the region to 2,000 hectares by 2027.

Utilization of domestic cultivation material holds particular significance. Over the past two years, the new areas have been sown with saffron corms grown on local plantations, allowing for a gradual reduction in reliance on imported planting material.

A modern production complex equipped for drying, processing, and packaging saffron has been established within the project framework. More than 20 types of products under the ORO ROSSO Milano brand are exported to Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, France, the United States, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia and other nations.

In 2025, export volume reached 10.2 million euros. For the current year, this figure is projected to rise to 12 million euros.

Project significantly contributes to employment generation, engaging approximately 30,000 residents in seasonal labour and providing permanent employment to over 500 people.

Expansion of production capacity and the formation of a self-sufficient domestic raw material base create favourable conditions for further increasing the export of Uzbek saffron and strengthening its position in international markets.