Are you looking to build a successful farming venture in 2025? A common question aspiring mushroom farmers often ask is what distinguishes those who attain success in this competitive industry from those who face difficulties in growing their businesses.
In 2024, we came across several remarkable individuals who have made mushroom farming a successful venture. Let’s explore the inspiring journeys of four such farmers, each offering valuable advice on how to strike gold with mushrooms.
1. Educate people about mushrooms
Trupti Dhakate, a former microbiology professor, founded Quality Mushroom Farm in 2018, transitioning from academia to pursue her passion for sustainable farming. Trupti’s key advice for aspiring mushroom farmers is to educate your market. Mushrooms are often misunderstood, so it’s important to engage with your community, she points out.
“We had to educate people about the nutritional value of mushrooms and clear up misconceptions about them being a non-vegetarian food. I even started cooking dishes with mushrooms as the main ingredient. It was a lot of work, but slowly people began to accept it,” she adds.
2. Adopt organic practices
Additionally, Trupti advocates for adopting organic practices, such as vermicomposting, to create natural fertilisers that improve soil health.
“What I really care about is helping farmers shift towards natural, organic farming,” she says.
3. Grow quality spawns
Shanker Meena, the founder of Jeevan Mushroom, started his venture in 2017 and turned it into a Rs 13 lakh/month business. He attributes his success largely to his emphasis on using top-tier tissue cultures and mother spawns. By investing in clean, disease-free spawns, Shanker ensures that his crops are healthy and productive.
“But farmers take a shortcut and keep multiplying spawns using the commercial spawns, instead of preparing a different tissue culture and mother spawn. This reduces the quality of the spawns and makes them vulnerable to diseases,” Shanker highlights.
4. Invest in technology
Shanker’s commitment to innovation and quality extends beyond just the raw materials. He believes in the power of investing in technology to create a more efficient and sterile production environment.
By incorporating modern equipment such as germination chambers and autoclaves, he has been able to maintain a consistent, disease-free environment throughout the production process.
5. Focus on quality over quantity
Ayush and Rishabh Gupta, the brothers behind Gupta Organic Farms and A3R Mushroom Farms, place a strong focus on producing high-quality mushrooms rather than prioritising volume.
Their farm ensures that every mushroom is A-grade, meaning it is well-formed, mature, and carefully trimmed. This attention to detail not only differentiates their produce in a competitive market but also ensures a consistent and loyal customer base.
6. Leverage government subsidies
The Gupta brothers were strategic in securing government subsidies, which provided essential financial support during the setup of their polyhouse farm. “We even secured a 40 percent government subsidy, prompting us to commence with planting English cucumbers in our polyhouse farm,” says Ayush.
This financial relief allowed them to scale their operations and focus on expanding their production capacity.
7. Start small with minimal investment
Pratibha Jha’s journey from a housewife to a successful mushroom farmer in Bihar is an example of resilience and resourcefulness. Despite limited resources and initial scepticism from her conservative family, she started her mushroom farm in 2016 with just Rs 500. Today, she not only runs a flourishing business but also trains over 10,000 farmers, empowering them to establish their own ventures.
One of Pratibha’s key pieces of advice is to start small with minimal investment. “I believe anyone with a vacant room can start mushroom farming and earn Rs 15,000-20,000 in the beginning. It’s the easiest business to start,” she says.
8. Take the first step with confidence
Pratibha also emphasises the importance of overcoming hesitation and taking that first step with confidence. While she faced doubts and a lack of resources, her determination to pursue mushroom farming pushed her forward.
“Don’t be afraid to take that first step. Success isn’t defined by how much money or resources you have, but by the determination and drive to make it happen. If I can do it, so can you,” she says.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee
