Ludhiana Siblings Pioneering Indoor Saffron Farming with Aeroponics

Aastika Narula and her brother Shankar Narula from Ludhiana are changing the way people farm by coming up with new ways to grow saffron, which is the most expensive spice in the world. The two have been successful at growing saffron indoors using aeroponics, a new way to grow plants without soil in air or mist. Even more amazing is that they did this right in their own backyard, bringing some of Kashmir's weather to their own town.

Aastika and Shankar were motivated to grow saffron after seeing their father's study into new ways of farming. Traditionally, saffron is grown in the cooler, mountainous parts of Kashmir. They set up a high-tech lab in a 616-square-foot spot close to their house. In a controlled room, they made it feel like Kashmir, where it is cool and dry. Setting up this project, which cost about 50 lakh rupees, shows that saffron growing can do well even in a hot and humid city like Ludhiana if the right conditions are in place.

Shankar said, "We wanted to show that saffron can be grown outside of Kashmir, and we did it using modern technology." He went on to explain how chillers and dehumidifiers carefully control the temperature in their indoor farm. Also, CO2 sensors have been put in place to keep an eye on the amounts of carbon dioxide, which is important for plant growth. Grow lights give the plants artificial sunshine during the day, and at night, the temperature is lowered to make it feel like it's cool and crisp in Kashmir.

Even though the Narulas put a lot of money into their building, they say that smaller units can be built for Rs. 7 to 8 lakh. The brothers put up a system of wooden racks to grow their saffron bulbs and used thermocol sheets to keep the bulbs warm. They carefully bought 1,800 kg of saffron bulbs from Pampore in Kashmir, where each one costs Rs. 1,000. These bulbs were carefully cleaned and planted within ten days of arriving to keep them from getting contaminated and to make sure they got enough wind and mist exposure, both of which are important for plant health.

Aastika shows how important it is to do regular upkeep, especially to keep fungus away. She said, "A small fungal infection can ruin a whole tray of saffron, so we take extra care to keep everything in check." Their careful attention to detail paid off, as their indoor saffron farm is doing very well. This shows that even a fragile and valuable crop can be grown successfully in a place other than its natural one.

The brothers don't just want to be successful for themselves; they also want to encourage other people to try new ways of farming. People in India often think of farming as an old-fashioned job that requires a lot of hard work. Aastika and Shankar's business shows that farming can be profitable, fun, and long-lasting.

"We want more young people to see this as a chance to start farming." Shankar said, "Agriculture can be a great career if you know what you're doing and have the right tools." Their story shows that gardening can have a bright future, even in cities, if people are creative and work hard.

As their indoor saffron farm continues to do well, Aastika and Shankar are already planning to grow their business and look into other high-value plants that can be grown using aeroponics. Their business is a great example of how modern technology can help farmers grow crops in new and interesting ways. This will make farming a profitable and successful industry for future generations.

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