Feasibility of Mushroom Farming in India

By:- Bharat Bhushan GargRoll No. 146/08

To find out the problems/constraints in rapid spread of mushroom farming

To find market potential of mushroom farming in INDIA

To suggest ways for tackling these problems

The mushroom growers from States like Himachal Pradesh and Haryana was contacted through the questionnaire

For Primary data: The questionnaire was prepared for mushroom farmers and questionnaire consists of open-ended as well as close ended questions

For secondary data: The secondary research will involve the information collection from the various research article, websites of agriculture universities

Target population: Sample element : Mushroom Farmer Sample Units : Himachal Pradesh,

Haryana Sample extent : H.P.: Solan

(Chambaghat), Haryana: Gurgaon

and Sonipat Sampling procedure: Judgmental sampling Sample size : 30

Producing nutritious food at a profit, while using materials that would otherwise be considered “waste,” constitutes a valuable service in the self-sustaining community we might envision for the future.

A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source

Mushrooms do not contain chlorophyll and depend on other plant material (the “substrate”) for their food

Choosing a growing medium Pasteurizing or sterilizing the medium Seeding the beds with spawn (material from

mature mushrooms grown on sterile media) Maintaining optimal temperature, moisture, and

other conditions for growth and the conditions that favor fruiting (This is the most challenging step.)

Harvesting, packaging, and selling the mushrooms.

Cleaning the facility and beginning again.

Marketing of mushrooms in India is not yet organized

India’s annual mushroom production is negligible as compared to world production

Per capita consumption of mushrooms in India is hardly 5 g. as against over a kg. in developed countries

Presently, about 70,000 tonnes of fresh mushroom is being produced in India as against over 5 million tonnes world production of mushroom annually

Despite all the favorable conditions, mushroom farming is not spreading fast

Strength:

1. Climatic conditions congenial for mushroom production.2. Abundant raw material, technical pace, cheap manpower, enormous domestic market coupled with government support.3. Strategic location.

Weaknesses:

1. Higher cost of finances, packing material, energy and transportation.2. Poor quality of raw materials, high value of plant and machinery and heavy duties.3. Operational restrictions of 100% EOU.

Opportunities:

1. Decline in production of mushrooms in other countries, breaking down of international trade barriers.2. Well adapted modern technologies for production and post harvest management.3. Increasing awareness and liking for mushrooms in domestic market (27,865 tonnes consumption in 1996-97).

Threats:1. Fierce competition from China.2. Demand shift towards fresh mushrooms.3. GATT/URAA

The data was collected mainly from the mushroom farmers of Solan (The Mushroom City of India) and nearby Delhi area i.e. Gurgaon and Sonepat

Annual production of mushroom varies from .5 tonnes to 5 tonnes per acre depending upon the quality of spawn and the environmental conditions. 

Maximum mushroom farmers are involved in this profession for more than 1 year and the number of farmers is growing from past few years. 

It can be clearly seen from above bar graph the production is comparatively high in Solan as compared to Gurgaon and Sonipat, the basic reason behind it is the environmental suitability for mushroom in Hilly areas. 

The profit margin for the farmers of Solan is low as compared to farmers of Gurgaon and Sonepat because of the markets available near these areas.

The price of Mushroom in Solan is comparatively low as compared to Gurgaon and Solan due to availability of markets near these areas 

The problem of environment is frequently faced by farmers of the plain area having moderate to high temperature which includes areas of Haryana.

Frequently faced problem by farmers of Solan is transport which is not faced by farmers from Gurgaon and Sonepat. It causes more problem due to shelf life of mushrooms

The electricity tariffs are high in Gurgaon and Sonepat as compared to Solan which cause problem for mushroom farmers of former who need electricity for Air conditioners to maintain temperature and humidity.

Problem of infrastructure is faced more by farmers of Solan and emerged as one of the biggest problem for farmers. India is lacking in technology, refrigeration and storage of mushroom which is hindering its growth

Quality of spawn predicts the quality of mushroom as they serve as seedlings for mushroom. However spawn quality is not a big issue for mushroom farmers and they are able to produce good quality of spawn which results in quality mushrooms. 

Marketing of mushroom in India is not upto that level that it needs to be. Mushroom growers of Solan are facing this difficulty while farmers of Gurgaon are not facing much problem in marketing.

Education is the common problem for the farmers of all these areas, farmers do not know the technology and scientific methods of growing mushroom

Mushroom is at its nascent stage in India and can

have large potential due to presence of favourable climatic conditions in Hilly areas

Farmers are uneducated and not much know about technology and growing mushroom by traditional methods

There are some problems in Solan like transport, infrastructure although quality mushrooms are produced here

Gurgaon like areas can be developed as Mushroom-Hubs because of availability of transport and infrastructure

There is need for proper marketing and infrastructure for the wide spread of mushroom farming

The present growers must join hands to form co-operative societies in order to share the technical information on day to day growing and spawn production and in order to control its prices.

The costs of production should be maintained as low as possible by utilizing the local agriculture residue.

Mature and committed entrepreneurs should be encouraged to become involved in the mushroom industry.

The Indian Government sectors must take the initiative in assisting in the marketing of fresh and processed mushrooms for export by purchasing the crop from small scale farmers.

  Know the deep insights and ground realities

of farming sector How to convince farmers for filling the

questionnaire Understanding the supply chain of

mushroom How to analyze data using SPSS Various intricacies involved in mushroom

farming

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farming-mushrooming-hp - www.andhranews.net/India/.../29-Mushroom-farming-

46969.asp www.krishiworld.com/html/mushroom.html www.tradeindia.com/.../indianmanufacturers/button-

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