Wayanad-Based Engineer Quits Decade-Long Career to Start Kerala’s First Indoor Saffron Farm; Builds a Lucrative Business

In the misty highlands of Wayanad, Kerala, a quiet agricultural revolution is taking root - inside a 225 sq. ft. room.

Seshadri Shivakumar, a 33-year-old civil engineer turned agripreneur, is growing one of the world’s most precious spices - saffron; not in the snow-clad fields of Kashmir but in the tropical hills of southern India. 

As the founder of LNS AgriTech, Kerala’s first indoor saffron farm, Shivakumar is betting on high-tech agriculture to redefine what’s possible in Indian saffron farming.

A Thirst to Start Something Of His Own 

With nearly a decade of experience in civil engineering and a brief stint in academia, Shivakumar reached a point where stability no longer felt fulfilling.

What began as a search for sustainable business ideas - like making banana fibre products - soon evolved into an obsession with indoor saffron farming.

“It was towards the end of these nine years of a civil engineering job, I was looking into some other possibilities wherein I could start my own venture, something interesting, something new, or something people hadn't looked into much,” said Seshadri Shivakumar during his interview with Startup Pedia. 

This search led him to indoor saffron farming.

Also Read: The Rise of Indoor Saffron Farming: Saffron Cultivation in India, Different Varieties & Benefits

Civil Engineer Turns Indoor Saffron Farmer 

Indoor saffron farming, virtually unheard of in tropical regions, required not only a technical leap but a personal one.

Shivakumar embarked on a self-taught crash course, scouring YouTube, reading through agricultural blogs, and visiting farms across India to understand what it would take.

He visited multiple farms across India where indoor saffron farming was being done, with his journey ending in Kashmir, the red gold’s natural habitat.

That’s how Seshadri ended up opening his own saffron farming venture.

In 2024, he founded LNS AgriTech, the home of Kerala’s first indoor saffron farm. 

Skepticism Around Saffron Farming

Stepping into saffron cultivation was not just an entrepreneurial decision for Seshadri - it was a leap of faith into an uncharted territory.

From the very moment he shared his plans with friends and family, he encountered scepticism.

His friends and family questioned the feasibility of growing saffron in Kerala’s tropical climate, expressing doubts about whether the delicate saffron flowers would even bloom outside their natural environment. 

“They were a bit, what to say, unsure whether this would work out or not, or whether it would actually flower,” added Seshadri about the skepticism he received during the initial phase of his journey from his family & friends. 

Despite the doubts and discouragement, Seshadri remained steadfast, determined to defy the odds through methodical research and precision. 

The challenges, however, extended far beyond his speculation. Even the procurement of saffron bulbs from Kashmir posed logistical and financial hurdles. He had to figure out how to transport the corms within a budget, so he went ahead with rail transport. 

“The procurement, transporting it from Kashmir, and starting the farming process, up until we get the first flower, it's a lot of skepticism. Even within ourselves, like, how will it go?” explained Seshadri about the internal struggle he went through at the beginning of his journey. 

Learning The Basics 

Now that he had gotten the saffron corms transported, he had to learn the entire cultivation process.

Platforms like YouTube and various agricultural websites provided him with a foundational understanding, covering the theoretical aspects of flowering and basic cultivation techniques. 

However, as he delved deeper, he realised that these resources often showed an overly optimistic picture, overlooking the challenges involved with indoor saffron farming.

“Beyond flowering, there are so many things that we need to understand in terms of saffron cultivation. It’s not available on the websites. So I attended a few workshops about saffron cultivation at places where it was already being done. I was able to learn so much more from them,” said Seshadri Shivakumar during his interview with Startup Pedia. 

These visits provided him with much more information on the topic, yet even seasoned cultivators hesitated to disclose all the challenges they faced.

The limitations of shared knowledge became apparent, but instead of being discouraged, he used these learnings as stepping stones to refine his approach.

“So there were limitations, but still I was determined to move ahead, to go ahead with saffron cultivation with the information that I had. And at the end of the day, there were so many things that I understood, and so many more I discovered myself during the cultivation process,” Seshadri told Startup Pedia. 

Also Read: The Many Uses of Saffron: How Different Industries Benefit from It

Setting Up LNS AgriTech 

In 2024, Seshadri Shivakumar set up his farming venture, LNS AgriTech, on the terrace of his sister’s house. 

It was not just an entrepreneurial pursuit but a carefully planned investment in the future of high-value crop cultivation.

At the core of Seshadri’s saffron cultivation lies a meticulously engineered controlled-environment setup designed to replicate the climatic conditions of Pampore, Kashmir.

Within a compact yet highly specialised 225-square-foot cold room, he has recreated the precise temperature, humidity, and atmospheric composition required for saffron crops to thrive. By utilising insulated panels to seal off external influences, this setup allows for a fully isolated microclimate independent of Kerala’s natural weather conditions.

“We have a refrigeration unit, a humidifier, and a dehumidifier for controlling the humidity, and artificial lights called grow lights are used instead of sunlight. So all these things are provided inside the room, which induces the exact climate in Pampore, Kashmir,” he said, describing his farming setup.   

Initial Investments

Seshadri’s entire saffron farming setup required an initial investment of approximately ₹10–12 lakh, a cost that could vary depending on existing infrastructure. For those with a pre-existing space, conversion into a cold room with proper insulation could significantly reduce expenses. 

However, Seshadri had to build his facility from scratch, constructing a fully insulated cold room designed specifically for saffron cultivation. He didn't have an existing room that could be used for saffron cultivation. 

“There are 3 different types of costs that can come out when setting up a farm. One is the development of the cold room. If you have a cold storage room, then that cost can be reduced. The second is equipment cost. Another category is the bulk of the saffron corms, which is the basic and most important thing of all. So these are the three major breakdowns of the cost, and the cost would be around 10 to 12 lakhs,” said Seshadri Shivakumar, explaining his farm setup during his interview with Startup Pedia. 

First Harvest 

The first batch of LNS AgriTech’s saffron cultivation began with 400 kilograms of corms procured from Kashmir, where prices fluctuated between ₹700 and ₹900 per kilogram.

Beyond the initial investment, the long-term sustainability of the venture relied on saffron’s natural multiplication process.

“When we see the sprouting of the bulbs in September, and in mid-October, we get the first flower, and when we see the first flower, that's a completely different experience; the feeling of overcoming all this fear and pressure is surreal,” said the civil engineer-turned-farmer, recalling his first harvest.

In his first year, Seshadri harvested about 500 grams of saffron and sold it for about Rs. 700-800 a gram.

Also Read:  Nagpur Couple Invests Rs 15 Lakh To Grow Saffron At Home, Clock Rs 30 Lakh Revenue In FY25

Rising Demand in Kerala 

The demand for saffron in Kerala spans both the B2B and B2C markets, with significant traction in the Ayurvedic, cosmetic, and culinary industries.

Large and small-scale Ayurvedic manufacturers, particularly those producing herbal formulations like Chyawanprash, extensively use saffron in their products – not just the coveted red threads but also the violet petals and yellow anthers.

Similarly, the beauty and personal care industry incorporates saffron into skincare and haircare formulations, leveraging its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Culinary applications further drive demand, especially in Kerala’s vibrant food culture, where saffron is a prized ingredient in biryanis, desserts, and festive delicacies.

Despite this growing demand, Shivakumar’s sales network remains close-knit—friends, family, and early buyers who found him through word of mouth. Scaling up remains a key priority.

He aims to increase his production and cater to a larger consumer base.

Advice to New Farmers

“I would simply say that half-knowledge is dangerous. It's a simple thing. Many people who enter into this business do so with half knowledge. What happens is that they will have a lot of surprises. Half knowledge is dangerous. Try to have good knowledge about whatever things you are involved in,” says Shivakumar, advising first-time saffron farmers. 

He further adds that “You will get a lot of surprises, and you might quit in between before getting the results, good results, which would be in the second year or third year or maybe something like that. It's a long-term game.”

Also Read: Indoor Saffron Farming: A Revenue & Cost Breakdown

Vision For The Future

“I have currently been collaborating with a research centre in Kerala, exploring the possibility of flowering & harvesting multiple times in a year. So, getting flowers multiple times a year makes the saffron cultivation process more attractive and also very feasible,” Seshadri told Startup Pedia during his interview.

LNS AgriTech is more than just a saffron cultivation venture – it is a commitment to exploring modern agricultural solutions that move beyond traditional farming practices.

Controlled-environment farming, such as saffron cultivation in cold rooms, is just the beginning.

By leveraging technology and innovation, LNS AgriTech aims to pioneer new methods of growing high-value crops in non-traditional settings, ensuring sustainability, resource efficiency, and food security for the future.