Mushroom is important not only from nutritional and medicinal point of view but for export also. It requires little space or land and hence it is of great importance for landless and marginal land holders. Mushroom production has tremendous potential as an income generating activity. It grows without sunlight, feed on organic matter and does not require fertile soil. In addition to floor, air space is also utilized resulting in higher productivity.
Mushroom cultivation can provide additional income to farmers who wish to take up this activity especially in their lean season.
The greatest advantage of this venture is the fact that mushrooms have capacity to convert nutritionally valueless substance like wheat or paddy straw into nutritious delicacies. It also enables recycling of agro wastes like dung and chicken manure which otherwise are posing pollution problems. Mushroom is a fungal body having no chlorophyll and, it is a parasitic plant. It depends upon other living or dead plants to obtain food. Mushroom is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals, folic acid and is a good source of iron for anemic patients. Mushroom contains 19 to 35 per cent protein which is higher than most of vegetables and cereals. Its protein quality is as good as animal protein. Moreover, lysine and tryptophan protein which are absent in vegetables and cereals can be obtained through mushrooms.
Mushrooms are of different types:
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Dhingri (Oyster) Mushroom
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Paddy Straw Mushroom
Mushroom farming business can be very profitable within few weeks. In addition, starting your own business growing oyster mushrooms for profit is fairly easy.
Materials Required
1. Straw and spawn
Cereal Straw Fresh golden yellow paddy straw free from moulds and properly stored in a dry place not exposed to rain. You’ll need a spawn to start the culture. You can produce your own spawn using a sterile culture, or you can buy ready-to-inoculate spawn, which are carried by suppliers. You’ll also need to buy the substrate. Many growers use straw or wood chips. Straw is generally the preferred method. You want straw that can be chopped up into little pieces.
2. Plastic Sheet of 400 gauge thickness
Now it’s time to pack plastic bags with the straw and spawn. Pack two or three inches of straw into the plastic bag and then lightly sprinkle the spawn on top. Repeat this until you’ve almost filled the bag, close the top and poke holes in the bag.
3. Wooden Mould
Wooden Mould of 45x30x15 cms size each having no top or bottom but having a separate wooden cover 44x29 cms dimension.
4. Hand Chopper or Chaff cutter for cutting the straw.
5. Drum for boiling straw (minimum two).
6. Jute rope, coconut rope or plastic ropes
7. Gunny bags
8. Spawn or mushroom culture which may be obtained from the Office of the Assistant Pathologist, Mushroom Development Center for each block or registered sellers.
9. Sprayer
10. Straw Storage Shed -10X8m size
How to start with mushroom farming business?
Four steps to begin with mushroom farming business;
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Finding/creating a Mushroom House
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Purchasing Spawns & Disinfection of Mushroom house
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Spawning & Disinfection of compost
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Marketing
