Saffron cultivation in Iran dates back to 3000 years duration in its antiquity. This colorful and precious long-standing plant is without stem and has onions and since cultivated in the desert soil, it is known as Gold of Desert.
Of 150 flowers, a gram of saffron and of about 147 thousands fresh flowers, a kilo of dried saffron would be made.
Due to its color, taste, flavor and aroma, it has quite a few applications in the production of nutritional, pharmaceutical and chemical products and regarding the limitation on its cultivation and production, it would be considered as one of the expensive products.
Iran, with the average production of 100 tons per year, is placed as the first rate of Saffron-production in the world. Spain produces the average of 25 tons, as the second place and India, the Esperon Islands, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, China, France, Italy, Germany, Australia and Greece, producing the average of 25 tons, totally allocated the third place in the world. The main center of breeding this plant  are located in the low-water of desert areas in the  south of Khorasan  and the history of saffron-cultivation  goes back to 700 years ago in this region..