Gujarat becomes second after Kashmir to cultivate saffron

Ahmedabad: Gujarat has become the second state after Kashmir to cultivate saffron. Thanks to the Gandhinagar-based startup ‘Aerophonics Saffron Farming’, incubated at the Swarrnim Incubation Center of Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University has successfully developed saffron farming in Gujarat through Aeroponics.

Saffron, which is typically cultivated in cooler climates and is usually found in Kashmir in India, has been cultivated here. The startup – Aeroponics Saffron Farming – was founded in December 2021 by Sahil Ninama and Mayank Dabhi. It was incubated at Swarrnim Incubation Center of Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University earlier this year.

“Saffron is cultivated only once in a year in Jammu and Kashmir in India. It is seldom cultivated anywhere else. However, using aeroponics, we have successfully cultivated saffron in a 10×10 feet area in our university campus. The key uniqueness here is that the crop can be cultivated four times in a year instead of once a year. Moreover, we have also improvised on the saffron production process and reduced it by one fourth,” explained Sahil Ninama, co-founder, Aeroponics Saffron Farming.

“Going forward, we plan to cultivate saffron in waste land as well as unused places in Gujarat. The method used is aeroponics in which soil and water are not required and instead an artificial climate is created. We have successfully cultivated saffron with an investment of Rs 3 lakh. Using this method, we can get a yield of 500-600 gram saffron using 100 kg of saffron bulbs. Interestingly, there is no quality deterioration in the new crop as well,” Mayank Dabhi, co-founder of the firm said. The crop is also sent for product testing for Safranal, crocin and procrocin content.

So far, the startup has received Rs 1.46 lakh funding jointly contributed by the state government and the university for the cultivation of saffron.

The startup aims to expand its saffron production and retail it in the market.

“At Swarrnim, our sole aim is to nurture ideas and develop them into prototypes and innovations that can help address stinging socio-economic issues. This innovation of saffron cultivation can help take indigenous agriculture crops of India to the world and help farmers earn better. Through education, research, and innovation, our vision at SSIU is to drive up the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst students and help them tap into their creative minds and enable them to develop, promote and utilise innovations to build a better society,” said Mr. Adi Jain, Vice President, Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University.