HERAT, Afghanistan, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Attired in the national dress, Latifa Nuri expressed that working in a saffron field gives her energy and brings her happiness.

"I work in the processing sector of the saffron plant here and feel happy that I have a job," Nuri shared.

Noting her failure to continue education, Nuri said, "It is very good to work here and earn money to support my family."

The saffron industry has seen significant growth in Afghanistan over the past two decades, with yearly expansions in cultivation areas to harvest this valuable spice, known locally as "Red Gold."

According to officials with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Afghanistan produced nearly 41 tons of saffron in 2025 and exported 38 tons of the valuable plant, worth 67.5 million U.S. dollars.

"I am very satisfied with my job and its income," another female worker at the saffron processing firm, Gulsam Khudadadi, said recently.

Another working lady, Hadia, noted that sitting jobless at home could be the source of mental ailments and other diseases.

"We should come here to work. It is for our economic interests and also beneficial for our family," said Hadia.

Saffron is currently cultivated on almost 12,000 hectares of land across the country, and the area to cultivate saffron is on a constant rise, especially in the western Herat and adjoining provinces.

Saffron ranks among Afghanistan's leading export products.

Abdul Khaliq Khudadadi, the head of a local saffron company, Royan, hopes to export more saffron this year.

"Currently, we are collecting saffron from the farmers. After processing and packaging, we export to the United States, European nations, India and other countries. Our customers are increasing, and they want to import Afghanistan saffron," Khudadadi told Xinhua. ■