Hyderabad engineer turns 100 sq ft balcony into microgreens farm, earns Rs 2 lakh a month

In September 2023, Dr Madhu Salumuri suffered a major brain stroke, which restricted him from travelling long distances alone. An academician and mechanical engineer with a PhD in composite materials, he served as a director at a top-ranked educational institution in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Around the same time, his wife, Sumalatha Salumuri, was having health issues and decided to resign from her job. With medical recovery underway and their household income uncertain, the couple began searching for a stable and manageable source of income.

That search led them to microgreens farming. Sumalatha is an MBA postgraduate with a background in biotechnology. 

“For three months, we researched the feasibility of microgreens as a business – the production cycle, input costs, markets, etc. We found that Hyderabad had very few organised microgreens players and the awareness about its health benefits was low,” Madhu tells 30Stades.

Microgreens are young edible seedlings, harvested after they develop their first true leaves, usually within seven to 10 days of sprouting. A concentrated source of nutrients and flavour, they are known to reduce the risk of diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease.

Also Read: Chennai’s urban farmer sets up low-cost microgreens unit; earns Rs 1 lakh monthly

“Microgreens offer up to 40 times more vitamins than traditional leafy greens. So a serving of microgreens is far more beneficial than regular vegetables,” says Madhu. Research firm IMARC Group expects the Indian microgreens market to grow from 73 million dollars in 2024 to 157.7 million dollars by 2033, a CAGR of 7.86 percent.

Turning balcony into a microgreens unit

Madhu researched older players and got some contacts in the microgreens business. “I spoke to them on the phone and took major inputs from Mr Ajay on starting a unit,” he says.

Using his engineering background, Madhu converted his 100 sq ft balcony into a compact, efficient setup for microgreens farming. “We made it a completely dark room by using curtains. Microgreens need good controlled conditions of light, air, and water, but air conditioning is not required in Hyderabad,” he says.

In turning his balcony into a farming zone, Madhu invested a total of Rs 2.5 lakh, including racks, grow lights, exhaust fans and heavy curtains. He began with two racks with 20 trays.

 “Germination racks require darkness, and grow racks are fitted with lights. Seeds spend the first two days in the dark germination racks before being shifted to grow racks on the third day,” he points out.

Also Read: This man quit his high-paying MNC job to grow microgreens; clocks Rs12 lakh monthly from 500 sq ft

Tried and tested

Praroha Green's first crop, in February 2025, was bok choy microgreens, which were sent to a lab approved by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, for analysis. “The results showed high levels of enzymes, proteins, and antioxidants, giving us the confidence in both the product’s health value and market potential,” Madhu says.

To test consumer response, he distributed samples during an alumni run at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. 

“I took microgreens of fenugreek, radish (red and white), and bok choy, which received positive feedback, confirming demand. The challenge was not acceptance but awareness,” he adds.

He decided to approach gated communities, where product demonstrations helped convert residents into regular subscribers. The conversion rate was about 10 percent. “I then started a weekly subscription model for regular buyers,” Madhu says.

Less than a year-old profitable business

With the launch of a website and social media handles from day one, demand grew rapidly. Today, Praroha Microgreens serves over 150 customers, including restaurants, cafés, wellness centres, and individual households. A significant portion of its consumers are doctors.

The startup's tiny unit now accommodates 35 trays, each measuring 2 ft by 1 ft. The organic microgreens of bok choy, chia, broccoli, corn, peas, kale and other varieties sell for Rs 150 per 50 gm. 

The business currently generates around Rs 2 lakh in monthly revenue from just 100 sq ft. “Yields vary by crop. Amaranthus produces around 100 grams per tray, while fast-growing radish yields 400 to 500 grams per tray. We grow over 30 varieties of microgreens,” the urban farmer says.

Also Read: Banker quits job to grow microgreens; earns Rs5 lakh monthly from just a 64 sq ft unit

To meet the rising demand, he has tied up with franchise growers under the Praroha Greens brand, sourcing produce from partners when in-house capacity is exceeded.

“Microgreens is a profitable, scalable agribusiness that can be set up in small spaces. It is ideal for people looking to work from home,” he adds. 

Madhu uses non-GMO seeds, procured from trustworthy suppliers who are well-established players importing seeds from Israel and other countries. “I am now trying to get seeds directly from Israel,” he says.

Cocopeat is the growing medium for microgreens. Following a zero-waste model, I give the used cocopeat to nearby nurseries. Even our packaging is eco-friendly,” he adds.

(US Anu is a Madurai-based writer. She specialises in stories around human interest, environment and art and culture.)

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