Saffron harvest in Afghanistan - in pictures

  • Children and an Afghan man harvest saffron flowers on the outskirts of Herat province. All photos: AFP
    Children and an Afghan man harvest saffron flowers on the outskirts of Herat province. All photos: AFP
  • Afghan women pick saffron flowers.
    Afghan women pick saffron flowers.
  • They carry baskets of flowers in a field on the outskirts of Herat province.
    They carry baskets of flowers in a field on the outskirts of Herat province.
  • The purple flowers tumble into a basket.
    The purple flowers tumble into a basket.
  • The saffron pickers at work.
    The saffron pickers at work.
  • Female workers separate saffron threads from harvested flowers at a processing centre in Herat province.
    Female workers separate saffron threads from harvested flowers at a processing centre in Herat province.
  • It takes between nine and 10 months for the saffron bulb to reach maturity, before it is ready to be harvested.
    It takes between nine and 10 months for the saffron bulb to reach maturity, before it is ready to be harvested.
  • Afghan women pick saffron flowers.
    Afghan women pick saffron flowers.