THE CULTIVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SAFFRON IN SAMARKAND REGION

The present article presents the cultivation and development of saffron (*Crocus sativus L.*) in the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan, where the climatic and soil conditions have a promising potential for large-scale production. The study assesses ecological, agro-technical, and economic factors that affect the cultivation of saffron, such as soil type, planting methods, level of irrigation, and post-harvest treatment. Results show that the Samarkand region's characteristic gray soils, if supplied by integrated agro-technical production, are most suitable for the cultivation of saffron. The results emphasize the importance of sustainable technology, organic manure, and new plantation methods to achieve high yield and quality of saffron threads.