Mushroom Cultivation as a Source of Income
Mushroom Duplex, Chilly Mushroom, Mushroom Masala are just a few of many finger licking mushroom delicacies that we crave for. Ever wondered, where is this mushroom coming from or how easy or difficult is it to cultivate mushrooms? Well, let me share a story with you from my cluster in Shri Anandpur Sahib block of Rupnagar district, Punjab.
It all started with one question from a curious lady in the cluster. “Shubham, can’t we grow mushrooms? Is it very difficult to grow?” The question kept on lingering in my mind so I watched a few videos of mushroom on YouTube, read a few articles and consulted with Horticulture officer of our cluster to demystify “Agaricus bisporus” a.k.a Button Mushroom.
Fungi, a different class of creatures, including mushrooms. They rely on dead and decomposing organic things to develop because they lack the chlorophyll that plants have. They obtain their sustenance from these decomposing substrates with the aid of very small, thread-like structures (mycelium), which penetrate the substrate but are typically not visible on the surface. After the mycelium has multiplied considerably and ingested enough food substances, it develops the reproductive structure, which typically emerges from the substrate and produces the fruiting body, also known as the mushroom. The fruiting body of the mushroom can be umbrella-shaped or have a variety of other sizes, colors, and shapes. Commonly, it consists of a cap, or pileus, and a stalk, or stipe, but certain varieties may also contain additional structures, such as a veil or annulus, a cup, or a volva, which serve a variety of purposes throughout the fungus' life cycle. Mushrooms are now getting significant importance due to their nutritive and medicinal values and income generating venture. Being an indoor crop, mushrooms don't need any arable land.
An edible basidiomycete mushroom called Agaricus bisporus is a native of grasslands in North America and Eurasia. It has two color states: white and brown. Each of these states has a different name, and the adult state has even more names. In India, white button mushrooms are produced seasonally and in climate-controlled cropping houses, both of which call for the construction of fundamental infrastructure. When the weather is favorable for the crop, such as during the winter months in the Northwest plains and from September to April in the hills, seasonal growing is carried out for 5–6 months. However, button mushroom cultivation has been made easy for beginners through small portable pre-conditioned bags provided by Krishi Vigyan Kendra or KVKs.
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP has been awarded work to benefit more than 8000 women (directly and indirectly) by aggregating/evolving all women FPCs/POs from SHGs/JLGs in the districts of Rupnagar in farm, off-farm and non-farm sectors. The main objective of the project is to increase the income of our target beneficiaries by at least 50% by generating alternative livelihood opportunities through skill development and convergence of Government schemes. With that backdrop in mind, we aim to achieve livelihood diversification and enhancement of income through mushroom cultivation.
On 21st December, 2022, we conducted a training cum demonstration program in village Agampur which is a part of our cluster. A total of 32 women took part in the event. All the participants were trained by Dr. Bharat Bhusan, Horticulture Officer, Shri Anandpur Sahib. In the event, Dr. Bharat Bhusan explained the process and parameters conducive for mushroom cultivation. In addition to that, our team leader Mr. Rakesh Mewara also shared his previous experience in mushroom cultivation and income generation from the same. In the end, I too motivated them by assuring constant technical support from our end.
After the training was completed, we provided 10 bags of mushroom to 10 members of our women-led FPC which we procured from KVK, Ropar.
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The beneficiaries who received the bags were instructed to check the moisture content regularly and sprinkle half a cup of water in the bag if at all necessary.
On 2nd January, we completed the casing in all the 10 bags. The casing material was a mixture of coco peat, organic matter and other components that facilitates the growth of mushroom.
Economics of button mushroom:
Cost of one bag of mushroom ranges between INR 110 to INR 130. These bags are pre-conditioned, so no additional effort is required apart from casing. The cost of casing per bag is not more than INR 20. Hence, the total input cost won’t exceed INR 150. Now, according to the data we received from Horticulture department and KVK Ropar, each bag will yield a minimum of 4Kgs of button mushroom. Market rate or selling price of button mushroom is INR 150 per Kg. Thus, total revenue from a bag is 4*150 or INR 600 (minimum) and net profit is 600-150 or INR 450. Return on investment is 300 %.
Our beneficiaries realized the potential in cultivating mushroom however they were still skeptical regarding the yield. After a small waiting time of two weeks, white spotting was observed on the casing layer. Within a week, full grown mushrooms were visible. It is safe to assume that, with these bags, mushrooms will start growing within 40 – 45 days.
Similar training cum demonstration programs were also conducted in other four blocks of Rupnagar as well – Ropar, Morinda, Nurpur Bedi & Chamkaur Sahib.