Nagpur couple earns Rs 4L per month from 400 sqft

In Nagpur, a couple has turned a 400-square-foot room into a thriving saffron-growing facility. Akshay Holey and Divya Lohakare Holey, a BBA graduate and a former banking professional respectively, have mastered the art of cultivating the expensive spice using aeroponics, a soil-less farming technique. Their unique approach involves using controlled conditions and nutrient-rich mist to grow saffron, an industry traditionally associated with Kashmir's cold climate.

After experimenting with a small-scale setup in 2020, the couple expanded their operation in 2022, investing in a 400-square-foot and a 480-square-meter facility in Hingna. They harvest saffron between August and December, with the rest of the year dedicated to growing and maintaining corms for future harvests.

Akshay's business has generated annual revenue of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh over the past few years, earning an estimated profit margin of 80%. Their saffron, graded by the Saffron Institute of Kashmir, is sold at around Rs 630 per gram, translating to roughly Rs 6.3 lakh per kilogram. The couple attributes their low operating expenses to solar power, eliminating the need for conventional fertilizers and labor.

In addition to their own production, the Holey couple has trained around 150 entrepreneurs in indoor saffron cultivation, with 29 successfully establishing their own units across Maharashtra. They charge Rs 15,000 for training and purchase saffron from partner units, managing the packaging and marketing process.