Kashmiri villagers collect saffron flowers at a field in Pampore, 19 km (12 miles) south of Srinagar October 31, 2011. Saffron has been grown in Kashmir since the Mughal period, which began in the 16th century. In highly drained clay-loam soil, the saffron crop is sown on an estimated 17,000 hectares of land in Kashmir in the months of May and June and the flowers are harvested at the onset of autumn. It takes some 170,000 flowers to get a kilogram (2.2 lbs) of the precious spice.  - Text and photos by Reuters.