Noida man grows saffron indoors after Rs 6 lakh investment; earns Rs 3.5 lakh/month

Saffron is not a crop most people would associate with a residential room in Noida. The city’s scorching summers, rising temperatures and urban pollution are a far cry from the cool conditions of Kashmir, where saffron has traditionally been cultivated in India.Yet, retired engineer Ramesh Gera managed to grow Kashmiri saffron without owning farmland. Instead, he experimented with creating a controlled environment inside a closed room, using technology to recreate the conditions required by the crop.His journey, which began with years of experimentation, has since evolved into an indoor saffron cultivation venture and a training initiative for people interested in modern farming.From engineering to farmingGera spent around 35 years working as an engineer with multinational companies and had experience working in different countries.