Nagpur couple earns Rs 40-50 lakh annually through indoor saffron farming
Divya and Akshay Holey use aeroponics to cultivate saffron in controlled indoor environments.
A Nagpur-based couple is earning an annual revenue of approximately Rs 40-50 lakh through an indoor saffron cultivation venture, according to a report by The Times of India.
Divya Lohakare Holey and Akshay Holey run Shaya Enterprises, which sells saffron produce and provides training for setting up indoor cultivation units.
The couple began experimenting in 2020 by using 100 saffron bulbs from Kashmir in an 80-square-foot room in Dhule.
They used an air conditioner and a humidifier to recreate necessary conditions and eventually developed a method using aeroponics, where roots receive nutrients through a fine mist.
The venture's revenue reached Rs 30 lakh in FY25 with a production of 4.73 kg of saffron, according to Startup Pedia.
Akshay Holey said they chose saffron because it is expensive and has high demand while domestic production remains low.