As technology is making inroads into all spheres of life, a 33-year-old engineer from Kerala has used technology to cultivate saffron—a crop traditionally grown in the cold climes of Kashmir—right at his home in Wayanad. Leveraging advanced technology, Seshadri S of Sulthan Batheri has transformed a modest 225-square-foot room into a controlled environment that mimics the climatic conditions of Kashmir, making saffron farming in Kerala a reality.
After earning a degree in civil engineering, Seshadri worked with a reputed firm for nine years. However, a deep-seated passion for agriculture and a desire to make a meaningful impact drove him to resign from his job.
“I always wanted to combine my engineering knowledge with sustainable farming practices. Saffron cultivation seemed like an ambitious yet rewarding challenge,” Seshadri told “Open Digest.”
He converted 225 sqft of space at his home into a state-of-the-art farm which has temperature and humidity control systems, automated irrigation, and artificial lighting that replicates seasonal changes. “I did extensive research visiting the Saffron farms in Kashmir. The farm which I have set up maintains optimum temperature, crucial for the saffron crocus to thrive. It took months of trial and error to achieve the ideal conditions. Saffron is a delicate crop, and even minor fluctuations can affect the yield,” Seshadri said adding that he had invested over Rs 10 lakh for setting up the farm.
It wasn’t easy to source the seedling of the saffron flower and Seshadri had to spend Rs 4 lakh to buy 1000 kg of high quality saffron crocus bulbs from farmers in Kashmir through an agent. “Quality of saffron crocus bulbs is of prime importance in growing saffron,” he said.
The first harvest, conducted earlier this year, yielded about a decent quantity of high-quality saffron—a promising start that fetched a premium price in the local market. “There is a huge demand for high quality saffron in the market. It’s only been a year and the results are very positive. I will break even with a couple of more harvests,” he said adding that he is keen on mentoring others who want to take up tech-driven farming.
