Revolutionary Farming: Kanpur Entrepreneur Grows ₹4 Lakh Kashmiri Saffron Indoors
Akhil Sharma from Kanpur has revolutionized saffron farming by growing it indoors without soil or water. Using seeds from Pampore and advanced techniques, he produced 800 grams of saffron valued at ₹4 lakh. Sharma aims to develop this as a startup to meet global saffron demand.
Revolutionary Farming: Kanpur-based real estate businessman, Akhil Sharma, has done something revolutionary here by growing saffron without using soil and water indoors. Inspired by the picturesque Pampore fields of Kashmir, Sharma used aeroponic farming to grow saffron in a controlled environment, mirroring Kashmir-like conditions.
Sharma trained with experts in Chandigarh before beginning the venture in September 2024. Using saffron seeds directly sourced from Pampore, he was able to grow 800 grams of saffron in three months. This presently sells at ₹4 lakh in the international markets. In his novel approach, he keeps room temperatures under 15°C, the growth light, and humidity, preventing any direct sun exposure that could damage the flowers.
Sharma plans to expand this venture into a full-fledged startup, aiming to produce saffron on a larger scale for domestic and international markets under his own brand. With saffron's global demand and limited large-scale cultivation outside Kashmir, his initiative marks a revolutionary step in Indian agriculture and entrepreneurship.