India: The magic of mushrooms lures city professionals into farming
Most of us are still fixated on button mushrooms. Indian consumers are not exposed to specialty mushrooms like Wood Ear, Lions Maine, King Oyster, Portobello, Cremini
By Jaya Biswas
Times of India
Jul 21, 2020
Excerpt:
For Susovan Moulick, a mushroom cultivator from Kolkata, taking up mushroom business was a premeditated move. “Ever since I took up mushroom farming, there is an assured sum that I am able to bring home every month. At least I can now plan something concrete for the future of my family. I had it all planned. I was working with one of the renowned construction companies in India, which I quit. I wanted to do something on my own. So, I got a farm on rent, near Garia, where I’ve started growing mushrooms. The demand for mushrooms in the state is baffling. Even before my first harvest, I had customers lined up,” he said.
A person who has the basic knowledge about the technology and art of mushroom growing, and has enough space, can easily start mushroom farming wherever he wants to. Indranil Sengupta, who is into real estate business and also runs a mushroom farm in Kolkata, explained, “The demand for mushroom is high in the market. It is a profitable venture for someone who willing to start the business and is ready to devote time. Also, one must know that this is a labour-oriented business. There are different types of mushroom that have a different production costs. Therefore, it is important to decide on the budget before you start. The best variety to start with, in Kolkata, is oyster mushroom, primarily because of the humidity and temperature it requires.”
