Start a Mushroom Farming Business
Start a Mushroom Farming Business
Mushroom has the highest growth rate and potential for production. Mushroom farming is a labour and time-intensive venture.
Mushroom farming is being practiced in more that 100 countries and its production is increasing at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. India had been known world over for its exotic mushrooms. .Market for mushrooms is growing rapidly because of their nice aroma, subtle flavour, nutritious values and special taste. Many exotic preparations are made from them like soup, pickles, vegetables etc.
If you are planning to start one, you must be ready to devote time attending to the complicated process of growing mushrooms, growing them profitably, and the tricky aspect of marketing your product.
Large mushroom growers have captured the wholesale market, if you are starting small, experts advise that you focus on a niche market. If you already have a vegetable farm, you can incorporate mushroom growing into the business.
At present 3 mushrooms are being cultivated in India. These are :
the white mushroom (Agaricus bisporus),
the paddy-straw mushroom (Volvariella vovvacea) and
the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor-caju).
The main machineries required for mushroom processing unit are as under:
- Baby Boiler
- Tray type dehydrator
- Can Seamer
- Can reforming with rubber rollers
- Exhaust box
Mushroom Growing
The long process of growing mushroom involves getting and maintaining a mushroom culture tissue, using the culture to grow a mushroom starter (spawn), introducing the spawn to a substrate, and getting mushrooms to grow. The short process is to buy a spawn or mushroom kit from a commercial mushroom grower. Even then, you have to choose what species of mushroom to raise. Some mushrooms are difficult to propagate profitably, some requires special conditions to grow, and some have limited market.
Mushroom Production and Profitability
Market demand usually dictates a mushroom grower’s choice of what variety to propagate. Oyster and shiitake mushrooms are usually recommended for beginners. They not only have an existing market, but can be raised in many substrates, on small scale with moderate investment. Volume is dictated in the same way by market demand. Before deciding on your production, survey volume demand, prices by talking to potential buyers and other producers.
.Getting profit from a mushroom farm takes two to three years. And between starting your farm and profitability, you would have to face thin fruiting, possible insect infestation of your crop and fluctuating market prices.
To get the most profit, small mushroom growers sell mushrooms at retail or to directly to farmers’ markets, grocery stores, gourmet chefs and restaurants rather than to wholesalers. To capture a market, they concentrate on being a supplier of fresh produce rather than of mushrooms in bulk.
Profitability is usually increased by finding a way to make the average 15-week mushroom production cycle short. Continued operation is ensured by establishing a long-lasting relationship with buyers, which also means a commitment to deliver a consistent amount of supply. Buyers are most likely to enter into a contract with growers that are able to consistently fulfil their orders.
Various States provide Training in Mushroom Farming
- M.P. Agricultural University, Rahuri, Pune – 413 712 (MS) G.B. Pant -University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar – 263 145
-Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Krishak Nagar, Raipur
-N.D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Faizabad – 29 (UP)
-Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur – 313 001.
-Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan
- ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umroi Road, Barapani – 791 013 (Meghalaya)
-CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar – 125 004
-Haryana Agro-industrial Corporation R & D Centre, Murthal (Sonepat)
-Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur
-Central Agricultural University, Passighat
The Directorate of Mushroom Research is located in Solan city of Himachal Pradesh,
Mushroom farming is being practiced in more that 100 countries and its production is increasing at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. India had been known world over for its exotic mushrooms. .Market for mushrooms is growing rapidly because of their nice aroma, subtle flavour, nutritious values and special taste. Many exotic preparations are made from them like soup, pickles, vegetables etc.
If you are planning to start one, you must be ready to devote time attending to the complicated process of growing mushrooms, growing them profitably, and the tricky aspect of marketing your product.
Large mushroom growers have captured the wholesale market, if you are starting small, experts advise that you focus on a niche market. If you already have a vegetable farm, you can incorporate mushroom growing into the business.
At present 3 mushrooms are being cultivated in India. These are :
the white mushroom (Agaricus bisporus),
the paddy-straw mushroom (Volvariella vovvacea) and
the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor-caju).
The main machineries required for mushroom processing unit are as under:
- Baby Boiler
- Tray type dehydrator
- Can Seamer
- Can reforming with rubber rollers
- Exhaust box
Mushroom Growing
The long process of growing mushroom involves getting and maintaining a mushroom culture tissue, using the culture to grow a mushroom starter (spawn), introducing the spawn to a substrate, and getting mushrooms to grow. The short process is to buy a spawn or mushroom kit from a commercial mushroom grower. Even then, you have to choose what species of mushroom to raise. Some mushrooms are difficult to propagate profitably, some requires special conditions to grow, and some have limited market.
Mushroom Production and Profitability
Market demand usually dictates a mushroom grower’s choice of what variety to propagate. Oyster and shiitake mushrooms are usually recommended for beginners. They not only have an existing market, but can be raised in many substrates, on small scale with moderate investment. Volume is dictated in the same way by market demand. Before deciding on your production, survey volume demand, prices by talking to potential buyers and other producers.
.Getting profit from a mushroom farm takes two to three years. And between starting your farm and profitability, you would have to face thin fruiting, possible insect infestation of your crop and fluctuating market prices.
To get the most profit, small mushroom growers sell mushrooms at retail or to directly to farmers’ markets, grocery stores, gourmet chefs and restaurants rather than to wholesalers. To capture a market, they concentrate on being a supplier of fresh produce rather than of mushrooms in bulk.
Profitability is usually increased by finding a way to make the average 15-week mushroom production cycle short. Continued operation is ensured by establishing a long-lasting relationship with buyers, which also means a commitment to deliver a consistent amount of supply. Buyers are most likely to enter into a contract with growers that are able to consistently fulfil their orders.
Various States provide Training in Mushroom Farming
- M.P. Agricultural University, Rahuri, Pune – 413 712 (MS) G.B. Pant -University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar – 263 145
-Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Krishak Nagar, Raipur
-N.D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Faizabad – 29 (UP)
-Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur – 313 001.
-Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan
- ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umroi Road, Barapani – 791 013 (Meghalaya)
-CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar – 125 004
-Haryana Agro-industrial Corporation R & D Centre, Murthal (Sonepat)
-Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur
-Central Agricultural University, Passighat
The Directorate of Mushroom Research is located in Solan city of Himachal Pradesh,
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