Saffron cultivation under controlled environment has been gaining traction in Telangana, with some progressive and educated farmers growing these flowers to make a good profit. With an aim to conduct more research on costs, yields and technological intervention needed, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University (SKLTGHU) has established a laboratory for researching the cultivation of saffron using the aeroponic method.
The aeroponic saffron laboratory has been set up at the university's College of Horticulture in Mojerla village of Peddamandadi mandal in Wanaparthy district, with financial assistance from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), so that farmers from the region can reap the benefits of the research.
B Uday Bhaskar, the Chief General Manager of NABARD, Telangana, along with Dr D Raji Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of SKLTGHU, inaugurated the aeroponic saffron laboratory on Friday, April 10.
Aeroponic saffron farming is a high-tech, indoor, soil-free method where saffron corms are suspended in air and misted with nutrients. This technique allows for year-round production, reduces water usage by up to 90 per cent and provides high yields, enabling farmers to produce premium saffron in controlled environments, often bypassing traditional climatic restrictions.
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