Sujata Agarwal, from Jharsuguda, Odisha, ventured into saffron farming in 2022, turning a humble 100 sq ft terrace room into a thriving homegrown business named Bloom in Hydro.
Her journey began during a moment of reflection while using saffron in her daily prayers. Intrigued by its high cost, she started researching saffron cultivation and discovered the concept of indoor farming through aeroponics.
Despite having no formal training and no local examples to follow, Sujata took the bold step of establishing her venture. She invested INR 2.5 lakh to purchase 250 kg of saffron bulbs from Kashmir at INR 1,000 per kg. To replicate Kashmir’s climate, she set up an aeroponics system using racks and chillers in her terrace room.
Aeroponics involves growing plants in air or mist, providing nutrients without soil. Sujata meticulously controlled the temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and light to optimize saffron growth. Within just 15 days, shoots began to emerge, and flowers bloomed after seven weeks.
Today, Sujata’s innovative method allows her to harvest saffron twice a year, yielding about 900 grams annually. With saffron priced at INR 10 lakh per kg, she generates INR 9 lakh annually from saffron alone.
To expand her income, Sujata created a range of products from saffron leaves and petals, including saffron-based kahwa tea and a handmade hair and skin serum. The kahwa tea, priced at INR 2,500 per kg, brings in INR 13,000 per month, while the serum, priced at INR 400 per 30 ml bottle, generates INR 1.19 lakh monthly.
Combined, her annual revenue from saffron and its products totals INR 24 lakh—achieved from a 100 sq ft space.
Beyond her business, Sujata also trains aspiring saffron farmers, sharing her knowledge and empowering others to succeed in this unique field.
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