Manipur is home to the first saffron farmer in the state Khundrakpam of Lipham Khunou Makha Leikai in Imphal. The 35-year-old man, who is a sound recordist and theater production manager by profession, takes pride in his new venture-saffron farming. This experimental aeroponic saffron farming project has been undertaken on the soil of the "Red Gold" produced by this crop.
It is stated to cost over ₹5 lakh per kilogram in the market, highly-priced and used in all the culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic applications due to of skill and labor that has to go into cultivating.
Saffron farming doesn't solely imply farming; it means high investment with much risk management. It involves tremendous hardship for the entrepreneurs as in Manipur.
The state has been host to different entrepreneurs who ventured into a business against tremendous odds but have been quite successful in their respective pursuits. Nevertheless, Tomba and all those like him are requesting the government for additional support and assistance to further help these entrepreneurs sail through the rough waters that come with trying to start an enterprise in Manipur.
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