Hyderabad
Remember those famous songs of Shammi Kapoor in Kashmir? Well, another thing that just everyone across generations know about is the world-famous Kashmiri saffron. Saffron in Kashmir is grown just once a year and is harvested between October till mid-November. It is used in many industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and perfumery, as well as textile dyes. So, now a start-up in Hyderabad, Urban Kisaan has grown saffron for the first time in Telangana.
Big news is that Kashmiri saffron has been grown in Telangana for the first time, and it has been one of the most successful and gratifying experiences for the people who are behind this.
Dr. Sairam Reddy Palicherla, co-founder of Urban Kisaan, shares that saffron was grown only in Kashmir as it required specific weather conditions. Apparently, his team met some Kashmiri farmers, got the seed in August, and went about creating the exact conditions right here. Even the requisite carbon dioxide conditions were created so that the flowers could come and the strands could be harvested.
Dr. Reddy claims that they have been able to grow saffron in less space and in a more efficient manner when compared to the actual farmers in Kashmir. His team is now trying to grow saffron twice a year right here in Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad.