The MBA mushroom farmer Manish Yadav, a resident of Kangan Heri village in South West Delhi, had his life turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. While preparing for the Civil Services Examination after completing his MBA, the lockdown disrupted his plans and forced him to reconsider his career path. At the suggestion of a friend, Manish ventured into mushroom farming, which soon transformed into a thriving business.
A New Beginning in Mushroom Cultivation
Confined to his home during the lockdown, Manish decided to experiment with mushroom farming, leveraging the agricultural background of his family. With their experience in cultivating vegetables and grains, he saw potential in this new venture. His friend, already involved in mushroom cultivation, encouraged him to give it a try. The proximity of his home to Azadpur Mandi, Asia’s largest wholesale market for fruits and vegetables, gave him an added advantage in terms of marketing and logistics.
The Initial Experiment
Manish began his journey with a small-scale trial in a 15ft by 15ft room in his old house. He purchased 50 kg of mushroom spawns from a supplier in Sonipat, costing him around Rs 4,500, and 5,000 kg of compost for Rs 40,000. Setting up 500 bags with mushroom spawns, he managed to harvest 1,000 kg of mushrooms from this initial batch. Selling these mushrooms at Rs 250 per kg, he made Rs 2.5 lakh with an initial investment of Rs 45,000.
Scaling Up the Business
Encouraged by the success of his trial, Manish expanded his operations and established Shri Shyam Mushroom Farm. He now cultivates mushrooms in three rooms, each measuring 14ft by 35ft, with a height of 14 feet. Each 500 sq ft room can accommodate 1,200 to 1,300 mushroom bags, stacked on wooden racks. Each bag, containing 100 grams of spawn and 10 kg of compost, produces around 2 kg of mushrooms in a cycle of 2 to 2.5 months.
With three rooms, Manish produces approximately 40,000 kg of mushrooms annually. He utilizes cold chambers for year-round cultivation, ensuring controlled temperature and humidity to maximize yield and minimize contamination.
Financial Success of MBA mushroom farmer Manish Yadav
MBA mushroom farmer business model proves highly profitable. The cost of production per bag is Rs 130, with each bag yielding 2 kg of mushrooms, resulting in a production cost of Rs 65 per kg. Selling at an average annual price of Rs 150 per kg, he makes a profit of Rs 85 per kg. This translates to an impressive annual profit of Rs 34 lakh.
The Path Forward
Manish continues to source spawns and compost from his trusted supplier in Sonipat, allowing him to focus on production. He employs four workers to help with harvesting and packaging the mushrooms, which are then sold at Azadpur Mandi.
The method of using cold chambers has proven effective, enabling him to maintain production throughout the year and meet the increasing market demand. With the Indian mushroom market expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by health-conscious consumers and the rising trend of veganism, Manish’s business is well-positioned for continued success.
Conclusion
From an uncertain future to becoming a successful agripreneur, Manish Yadav’s journey is an inspiring tale of resilience and innovation. By leveraging his MBA skills and agricultural background, he has turned a small experiment into a lucrative business, demonstrating the vast potential of mushroom farming in India.
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