KABUL, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The saffron harvest has increased in western Afghanistan's Herat province, which is popular for cultivation of the precious crop in the war-ravaged country.

Saffron harvest increased 15 percent year on year, Tolonews reported Sunday, citing Bashir Ahmad Ahmadi, head of saffron promotion at Herat's Directorate of Agriculture department.

The official said more than 40 tons of saffron were harvested in the province last year.

About 10,000 hectares of land in the province have been allocated to saffron cultivation this year, and the land allocated for saffron cultivation has been on constant rise in other provinces of Afghanistan too.

Locally known as "Red Gold," the profitable crop encourages and prompts more and more farmers to cultivate it. The price of 1 kg of saffron in the local market costs 100,000 afghani (about 1,408 U.S. dollars) and the price is on constant rise. Enditem

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