How profitable is mushroom farming in India? Growing mushrooms!

Mushroom farming is essentially the cultivation of fungi. Mushroom growing is becoming India’s most productive and profitable business. It is gradually gaining popularity in India since it translates farmers’ hard labour into profit in a short period of time. In India, farmers employ mushroom growing as a secondary source of income. Mushrooms are a delicacy to consume. You may use it to season soups, veggies, and stews, as well as topping pizzas.

Why grow mushrooms? 

Growing Mushrooms is a great way to have a sustainable food source and an alternative to more expensive grocery store products. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamin D, B12, potassium, selenium, copper, and riboflavin. They also contain some essential antioxidants like ergothioneine and glutathione. However, they are low in calories when compared to other vegetables. Mushrooms are grown on organic farms in the dark to inhibit the growth of competing fungi and bacteria. Here’s how to start a mushroom farm!

How do you grow mushrooms?

Mushrooms can grow from almost anything, from the plant material and food scraps to animal manure and grass clippings. The fungus grows in a mat-like form and absorbs the nutrients it needs from the environment, such as decaying matter or bacteria. Mushrooms grow in cooler temperatures and require high humidity levels with good air circulation.

Types of mushrooms

Mushrooms are fungus that grows from compost, dung, organic material, and specific soil types. There are many different types of mushrooms and many different ways to cultivate them. Some examples include the button, the oyster mushroom, and the portabella mushroom.

Different mushroom growth stages

Mushroom farming is a process where one starts with the substrate (a bed of straw or sawdust), adds spores, and watches it grow. 

There are three basic steps to successful mushroom farming:

• inoculate the substrate, 
• grow the crop, harvest, and 
• package mushrooms for sale.

What you’ll need

To start a mushroom farm, you’ll need the following:

1. Mushroom Spawn: The spawn is a mass of mycelium (the network of fungal filaments) and grains of sterilized rye or other cereal grains. The type and quality of spawn will determine how long your mushrooms will take to grow.
2. Oyster Shell: This is used as a source of calcium and phosphorus for mushrooms. You can use crushed eggshells or purchase oyster shells from the grocery store in the pet section.
3. Organic Compost: This is necessary to maintain an acidic soil pH (around 6). You can get compost from a garden center, building supply store, or home improvement store.
4. Containers: You will need containers to place your spawn in, such as wood logs, wooden dowels, cardboard boxes, plastic barrels, or any other container that provides enough air circulation for your spawn to breathe while still providing enough humidity for the mushrooms to grow well.

Conclusion

Mushroom farming started many years ago and is now one of the fastest-growing farms. Mushroom farming is becoming more and more popular as people appreciate the subtle flavor differences between different varieties of mushrooms. Now is the best time to start mushroom farming in India if you have free land or space and want to get into the agricultural business.

The initial investment is minimal, and with the help of the good guidance of our agri experts, you can start enjoying the benefits almost immediately. Growing mushrooms offer an excellent opportunity for those who want to engage in farming, as mushrooms are not very picky about light, water, and soil requirements. Mushrooms are a great way to diversify the variety of crops you grow at home or on a small farm.

At Cropway, we collaborate with various regional teams, experts and scientists who have agricultural as well as local knowledge and with the help of technology can help us fine-tune our recommendations for you. Every farm gets its own customised solution to address its unique difficulties. No matter what kind of issues you’re dealing with. We’ve got the answers.

Book a 30-minute consultation with a Cropway expert! Ask for quote!