Scientists are trying to solve these problems by breeding stronger crocus plants that can grow in different climates. They're using a technique called mutation breeding, where they mess with the DNA of the plants by exposing the seeds to radiation. They hope that some of the changes in the genes will help the plants. They're also telling farmers how to make their fields better, like planting almond trees with the saffron to give them shade and cool down the soil.
Some farmers are trying new ways to grow saffron. One guy named Shailesh Modak used to work with computers but now he grows saffron. He grows the crocus plants in a big container with air conditioning and a special system to keep the air moving. The plants are grown in tubes with water and nutrients, using a technique called hydroponics. Modak even made software to control all the conditions for growing saffron.
Another idea is to grow the crocus plants inside for part of the year. The corms, which are like the bulbs of the plants, are taken out of the soil and grown inside for three months. Then they're put back outside just before it's time to harvest the saffron. Some farmers have had success with this method because it helps protect the plants and makes them grow better.
Even though there are some problems, people are working hard to make saffron production better in India. They want to make sure that this valuable spice can keep being made for a long time.
Original news source: Red gold': Why saffron production is dwindling in India (BBC)
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs.
2. Give each pair a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the pairs to read the article and summarize it in 3-5 sentences.
4. After they have completed their summaries, ask each pair to share their summary with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into small groups.
2. Give each group a list of discussion questions related to the article.
3. Instruct the groups to discuss the questions and share their opinions.
4. After the discussions, ask each group to present their opinions to the class.
– Sketch It
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs.
2. Give each pair a blank piece of paper and a pencil.
3. Instruct one student from each pair to describe a scene from the article to their partner.
4. The partner must then sketch the scene based on the description.
5. After they have completed their sketches, ask each pair to share their drawings with the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into small groups.
2. Give each group a list of vocabulary words from the article.
3. Instruct the groups to take turns selecting a word and drawing a picture to represent it.
4. The other group members must guess the word based on the drawing.
5. After all the words have been guessed, ask each group to share their drawings with the class and explain the meanings of the words.
– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into small groups.
2. Instruct each group to discuss and make predictions about the future of saffron production in India based on the information in the article.
3. Encourage the groups to think about the potential solutions mentioned in the article and the impact of climate change.
4. After the discussions, ask each group to present their predictions to the class and discuss their reasoning.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The changing climate and the construction of towns and villages on saffron fields are causing a decrease in saffron production in India.
Saffron costs about $1,500 for every kilo.
Scientists are breeding stronger crocus plants that can grow in different climates using a technique called mutation breeding. They are also advising farmers on how to improve their fields, such as planting almond trees for shade and cooling down the soil.
Mutation breeding involves exposing the seeds of plants to radiation to induce changes in their DNA. Scientists hope that these changes will help the plants grow better in different climates.
Some farmers are using hydroponics, where the crocus plants are grown in tubes with water and nutrients. Others are growing the plants inside for part of the year, taking the corms out of the soil and then putting them back outside just before harvest time.
Shailesh Modak used to work with computers but now he grows saffron. He has developed a special system with air conditioning and software to control the growing conditions for saffron.
Growing the crocus plants inside for part of the year helps protect them and allows them to grow better. This method provides a controlled environment and safeguards the plants from adverse weather conditions.
People are working hard to improve saffron production in India because saffron is a valuable spice and they want to ensure its continued production for a long time.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
production in India, which is called "red gold," is some that are causing a decrease in how much is made. The town of Pampore in Indian-administered Kashmir is where most of the saffron in the country is made. Saffron is a really valuable spice that costs about $1,500 for every kilo. To make saffron, the red threads called stigma are taken out of the petals and dried. But because the climate is changing, with weird rainfall and hotter temperatures, it's getting harder to grow saffron. Also, towns and villages are being built on the saffron fields and farmers aren't getting enough help with things like watering and training, so less saffron is being made. Scientists are trying to solve these problems by breeding stronger crocus plants that can grow in different . They're using a called breeding, where they mess with the DNA of the plants by exposing the seeds to radiation. They hope that some of the changes in the will help the plants. They're also telling farmers how to make their fields better, like planting trees with the saffron to give them shade and cool down the soil. Some farmers are trying new ways to grow saffron. One guy named Shailesh Modak used to work with computers but now he grows saffron. He grows the crocus plants in a big with air conditioning and a system to keep the air moving. The plants are grown in tubes with water and nutrients, using a technique called hydroponics. Modak even made software to all the conditions for growing saffron. Another idea is to grow the crocus plants inside for part of the year. The corms, which are like the bulbs of the plants, are out of the soil and grown inside for three months. Then they're put back outside just before it's time to harvest the . Some farmers have had with this method because it protect the plants and makes them grow better. Even though there are some problems, people are working hard to make saffron production better in India. They want to make sure that this valuable spice can keep being made for a long time.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is saffron and why is it called "red gold"?
2. How do weird rainfall and hotter temperatures affect the production of saffron?
3. Do you think it's important to find solutions to the problems facing saffron production? Why or why not?
4. How do scientists hope to solve the problems in saffron production?
5. What is mutation breeding and how does it work?
6. Why do scientists suggest planting almond trees with saffron plants?
7. How does Shailesh Modak grow saffron differently from traditional methods?
8. Do you think growing saffron using hydroponics is a good idea? Why or why not?
9. How does growing the crocus plants inside for part of the year help protect them?
10. Why do you think people are working hard to improve saffron production in India?
11. How would you feel if saffron production continued to decrease and eventually stopped?
12. Do you like saffron? Why or why not?
13. What other valuable spices do you know of? Why are they valuable?
14. How important is it to preserve traditional farming methods? Why or why not?
15. What are some other ways that climate change is affecting agriculture around the world?
Individual Activities
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π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
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