Nestled within the picturesque hills of Solan, Himachal Pradesh, the place mist-laden mornings embrace the earth, a brand new innovation is taking root. This quaint city, revered because the Mushroom Metropolis of India, is understood within the nation for being the biggest producer of mushrooms within the nation.
Past the scrumptious fungi and delightful landscapes, the place can also be changing into a breeding floor for innovation. Whereas a lot of the youth draw back from farming — contemplating it low in income — Gaurav Sabharwal is altering the narrative.
“I do know that many individuals are of the opinion that farming isn’t worthwhile nevertheless it is dependent upon what you might be rising. Whereas the general public within the metropolis are into mushroom farming, I made a decision to do one thing new to make it extra worthwhile,” he tells The Higher India.
The 36-year-old is rising saffron utilizing aeroponics in his 300 sq ft setup in Solan. With a managed atmosphere and chemical-free atmosphere, he was in a position to develop 500 gm of the ‘crimson gold’ and promote it at a outstanding Rs 500 per gram.
Need to know the way he grew Saffron that may solely be grown in Kashmir? Right here is his story –
‘Adversity results in innovation’
Born and raised in Solan, Gaurav aspired to observe in his father’s footsteps.
“I come from a small place and had humble goals. After finishing my commencement, I made a decision to affix my father in operating the household enterprise,” he recollects.
With easy goals of increasing his father’s shoe enterprise, Gaurav discovered contentment in following the trail his father had paved.
“It was 4 years in the past when issues modified with my father passing away. There was a debt on our household that we needed to pay, and our shoe enterprise was not making a lot revenue,” he says.
Struck with grief and burdened with the brand new accountability of fulfilling the mortgage, Gaurav labored diligently to make his household enterprise thrive.
“Name it destiny, however the enterprise wasn’t yielding a lot revenue, and I felt the stress to make a change. That’s once I started exploring avenues for extra profitable ventures. One factor I used to be clear about – I needed to run a enterprise,” he states.
Persevering with, he explains, “I may see quite a few mushroom planters in Solan who had been incomes substantial incomes. Nonetheless, with the market saturated with producers, costs had been steadily reducing. I realised I wanted to do one thing totally different.”
In search of choices on-line is when he discovered in regards to the valuable ‘crimson gold’ – saffron.
“Everybody is aware of how costly saffron is and the way worthwhile it may be. Nonetheless, I all the time assumed that it could solely be grown in Kashmir,” he says, including that he began researching on the web if there have been methods of rising it in Himachal.
“The web has all of the solutions and that’s how I discovered in regards to the strategy of utilizing a managed atmosphere for rising various kinds of crops,” he says.
He discovered a number of cases the place folks grew saffron utilizing aeroponics. Aeroponics is a approach of rising vegetation with out soil. As a substitute of planting them within the floor, the vegetation dangle within the air, and their roots are misted with a nutrient-rich spray.
“Aeroponics will help vegetation develop sooner, use much less water, and be extra proof against sure ailments in comparison with conventional soil-based strategies. It’s like giving vegetation a bathe of vitamins to assist them thrive,” he says.
Together with his coronary heart set on rising saffron, he set on a journey of studying aeroponics from scratch.
Making income and instructing others
“I did the very first thing that most individuals would do — go on the web and skim up about aeroponics. I discovered a bunch of individuals rising saffron utilizing the approach, and I made a decision to contact them, reaching out for his or her assist,” he says.
It was through the analysis that he discovered the sum of money he would wish to arrange his farm lab.
“I didn’t have that sort of funding, so I sought assist from the federal government. I acquired a mortgage of Rs 10 lakh and even acquired a rebate below PM Modi’s startup scheme,” he says.
With the best funding in hand, Gaurav was able to attempt his hand at rising saffron in Solan.
“The best issue to think about was that the temperature wanted to develop saffron was solely in Kashmir in India. So I needed to mimic that right here in Solan. I used the lab whose temperature may be managed,” he says.
“After mimicking the atmosphere and planting the seeds, it was vital for me to maintain a detailed eye on the buds. I used to be not conscious that they’ll catch fungus and was shocked when my first crop did catch it,” he says.
“I used to be in a position to eliminate it by drying the affected vegetation and separating them from the wholesome ones,” he provides.
After practically 8 months of exhausting labour and planning, Gaurav was in a position to develop 500 grams of saffron in his aeroponics farm.
“The produce, though not so much, was a superb signal. I used to be very tense as a result of this was a leap of religion for me. Earlier, I had no intentions of doing something and seeing these buds flower was a fantastic feeling,” he says.
As soon as prepared together with his produce, he was in a position to promote it at Rs 500 per gram. “The market fee was Rs 300 however these will not be pure and are normally chemically grown. I had them examined and mine produce was offered for greater than the market value,” he gleamingly shares.
Speculating that his funding will quickly get returns, Gaurav says, “The very best factor about utilizing this system is that it doesn’t require me to observe the seasons. This makes the produce out there to you all year long.”
The brand new approach was additionally very nicely obtained by the folks round him. “Lots of people in my metropolis have proven curiosity in studying the right way to use aeroponics. I’ve already taught it to 5 folks and I get inquiries daily,” he says.
Promoting his produce below the identify of Shoolini Saffron, he says, “I’m planning to develop the manufacturing extra and attain extra prospects.”
For those who want to purchase the saffron or discover ways to use aeroponics, you may attain Gaurav at 98166 11119.
Edited by Padmashree Pande
