Saffron, known for its bright crimson hue and high value and earning it the nickname of the spice, is slowly making its way into Karnataka from the Kashmiri town of Pamppore, where it has been cultivated for centuries. Growers here say it’s a tough business, but equally profitable.
During the pandemic-induced lockdown of 2021, Rajat Kumar, a software engineer at Belagavi, ventured into Crocus planting Lack of resources and no experience. He said this was inspired by a recent visit to Johnson & Johnson’s Pamppore plantation.
The journey got off to a rocky start: He used an ice cream freezer to grow 10 kilograms of saffron bulbs. The results were good, which encouraged him to expand his operation to a 10×10 room, where he planted 180 kilograms of bulbs the following year.
In 2023, he shifted production to Bengaluru and now he grows saffron in a 1,200 sq ft facility with a capacity of around 2,500 kg of bulbs.
Raja is not alone. These bright purple saffron flowers (crocus)—which contains tiny reddish-orange stigmas that are picked and processed into spices—is blooming across the state, thanks to a growing number of growers trying Growing crocus indoors. Indoor growing breaks through geographical constraints by using aeroponics in a controlled environment, where the plants grow in a humid, mist-filled atmosphere without the use of soil.
“The cultivation process takes place from June to November, when the saffron grows, and from December to June, the bulbs multiply in the soil mixture,” explains Rajat.
“The mixture consists of 55% coco peat, 35% garden soil, 10% garden sand and 5% vermicompost. After this stage, the bulbs are stored in a dark room for a month to start germination,” he said .
During the flowering season of October-November, aeroponics is used to simulate a Kashmir-like environment. By early December, green leaves will appear and the bulbs will be replanted in the soil for further growth.
“The profitability lies in the multiplication of bulbs, allowing for gradual expansion. About 500 kilograms of bulbs yield 1 kilogram of saffron,” he added.
Rajat said procuring the bulbs has become a challenge due to the limited number of growers and restrictions imposed by the J&K government. The bulbs are procured from Pampur, India’s saffron capital, which accounts for about 90% of the country’s production and is one of the world’s largest producers. Today, there are about 50-60 saffron growers in Karnataka, a significant increase from when Rajat started.
no child’s play
Just like Rajat, Jacob Sathyaraj from Davangere turned to saffron cultivation during the lockdown. Initially, financial constraints prevented him from trying. In 2023, he and his friends went to Johnson & Johnson for inspection and came back with inspiration.
“I procured 60 kilograms of bulbs from there, but unfortunately 15 kilograms were lost during transportation. I successfully harvested 20 grams of saffron from the remaining produce using aeroponic and hydroponic methods,” he said.
He is now experimenting with the possibility of producing two batches per year and is ready to upgrade the 10×10 room he currently uses for production.
Saffron cultivation has its own set of challenges, Jacob said, adding that it requires a lot of patience, in-depth research and meticulous planning.
“Many people fail in this venture because of misleading claims about quick and high profits. It is crucial for farmers to conduct thorough research and preparation before making any investment,” he said.
With every setback, he remained committed to perfecting his methods and exploring the practice’s full potential.
Matches Pamppore standards
In Udupi, two IT professionals turned growers Ananthajith Tantry and Akshath BK cultivate saffron at Bailoor, about 4 km from Udupi city.
The duo first produced 37 grams of saffron from 50 kilograms of bulbs. Due to the high humidity in coastal Karnataka, they installed air conditioners and chillers in the 180 sq ft cultivation room to maintain the ideal temperature, which is crucial for saffron cultivation.
“While Johnson & Johnson’s quality testing may set the benchmark, we believe our saffron meets their standards. The aroma and flowers are strikingly similar to Kashmiri produce,” Tantri said.
Last year was mainly in the R&D phase, but with more experience, they are now more confident. Their grow room can accommodate up to 200 kilograms of bulbs, with a potential saffron production of approximately 1 kilogram per year.
Since high-quality saffron is sold at about Rs 4 lakh per kg and low-quality saffron is sold at about Rs 3 lakh per kg, the business has huge profit potential.
