Harsh Patil's family cultivates bananas, watermelon, and cotton on 120 acres of land in Nandurbar village in Maharashtra. However, productivity has been decreasing owing to climate change and extreme weather events. "In December 2022 when our cotton crop was being harvested, it suddenly started raining. Due to these unseasonal rains, we suffer huge losses," he says.
While pursuing his higher education in computer science in Navi Mumbai, Harsh started looking for new technologies and methods of farming. "When I started researching, I came across new crops like dragon fruits, sandalwood, and saffron farming. Unlike other crops, I knew I would be able to easily tap into the market with saffron as it is the most expensive spice in the world. This would save me time and energy to completely focus on the production," he adds.
To be able to cultivate saffron in the warm climate of Maharashtra was a challenge for Harsh. So, he turned to cultivating saffron in a controlled environment using the aeroponics technique in a 15×15 room.
Far from the valley, Harsh was able to harvest 350 grams of saffron of 'mogra' variety in a tiny room, earning Rs 1 lakh. "The first experience was a little scary for me as well as exciting. I was doubtful if I would achieve success or not but I gave my 100 percent and got good results," he says.
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