Maharashtra-based Harsh Patil turned to innovative farming techniques after climate change impacted his family’s traditional crops of cotton, bananas, and watermelon.

He started growing saffron in his village, Nandurbar, using the aeroponics technique in a 15×15 room. Last year, he harvested 350 grams of saffron, earning Rs 1 lakh.

Harsh shares a step-by-step guide for farmers interested in replicating this method.

1) Establish a controlled environment Firstly, insulate the room using thermocol or puff panels. Install chillers from cold storages and humidifiers to control the temperature.

A temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius should be maintained in September during the sprouting period, and 5-7 degrees Celsius from November to October at the time of flowering.

2) Procure bulbs Procure saffron bulbs for sprouting only after preparing the unit. Farmers can start saffron cultivation from 100 kg, which can yield about 30 to 40 grams.

3) Bulb treatment process Sort the bulbs by size and remove dirt and mud. Dip them in a neem oil solution to remove bacteria. Then, allow the bulbs to dry naturally under a fan in the insulated room.

Place these bulbs on trays for sprouting. Prefer plastic trays over wooden ones as it will be less prone to fungus attack.

4) Maintenance of temperature and sanitisation Install humidifiers and air conditioners to provide a proper climate for saffron. Maintain humidity between 60 and 70 percent in the unit.

Limit access to the unit, and if entry is necessary, ensure masks and sanitiser are used so that there’s no risk of diseases affecting the bulbs. In case of a fungus attack, isolate the affected bulbs and treat them with neem oil.

5) Harvest stigma sticks Saffron is ready to harvest in late October. Pluck stigma sticks from each flower and place them on a clean cloth. Dry them naturally under the fan and your saffron is ready for sale.