Project report for Mushroom Farm

Mushrooms are a type of fungi, which are consumed as food. Mushroom consumption and cultivation are old practices that started some thousands of years ago. It is known that mushroom is often viewed as an edible object right from the very life of human. It is classified as a chlorophyll-free plant and meat in vegetables and is present in loads of varieties with over 2000 variant categories of edible mushrooms.

Mushrooms have gained recognition in the food chain because they contribute nutrient supplements to the food and high medicinal value. Weather is a crucial factor driving the rise of mushrooms.

Generally, the span of crop production is done from mid-February to mid-May and from September to November by maintaining a temperature range of 22-25 Celcius. The compost preparation should begin in the first week of January and the second crop at the end of July.

Button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, milky mushrooms, etc are grown to fit the climate of India. The button mushrooms are grown for business reasons. Milky and pink mushrooms are at the top in terms of taste, smell, protein, and medicinal properties in food products.

The ideal mushroom has high-quality proteins, nutrients, and a good share of vitamins. It’s the healthiest diet to shield the heart and nervous systems. Mushrooms are an effective and useful meal for all regardless of age. It is an appropriate tonic for anemia, particularly for pregnant women and children.

The demand for mushrooms increases day by day, as the awareness of its benefits spreads among the educated. Starting your own business growing oyster/milky mushrooms for profit is fairly easy. Due to increased recognition of its medicinal and nutritional values, coupled with the realization of the income-generating potential of fungi through trade, the demand for mushrooms has been on the rise. The edibility of mushrooms depends on the absence of poisonous content and its desirable taste and aroma.

Being a rich source of nutrition and being fat, cholesterol, and gluten-free, and very low in sodium content; mushrooms are gaining popularity among health-conscious consumers. The global market for mushrooms was valued at $29,427.92 million in 2013. This market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2014 to reach $50,036.12 million by 2021. Mushrooms have great export potential also.

Producing your own can be cheaper in the long run, but the start-up costs can be high. As there is a huge gap between demand and supply of mushrooms, its demand will not diminish and hence, the scope of the project is naturally high. The monsoon season is suitable for oyster mushrooms, the summer is good for the Milky mushroom. Lots of training centers, both in the public and private sectors provide training for the cultivation of mushrooms and their value addition at affordable cost.
 

The proposed products are: Spawn packets & Mushrooms

Mushroom Spawn

Mushroom spawn is the seed of mushrooms. It is any substance inoculated with mycelium used to grow mushrooms. The substances may be sterilized paddy grains, wheat, or maize. The spawn is usually packed in a polythene cover and a packet weighs 200-250 gm and costs Rs.30/- -Rs.40/-.

Oyster Mushroom

Pleurotus ostreatus, the oyster mushroom, is a common edible mushroom. The mushroom has a broad, fan or oyster-shaped cap spanning 5–25 cm; natural specimens range from white to gray or tan to dark-brown; the margin is inrolled when young, and is smooth and often somewhat lobed or wavy. The flesh is white, firm, and varies in thickness due to stipe arrangement. The gills of the mushroom is white to cream and descend on the stalk if present. It can be sold in retail and wholesale. Retail packets vary from 100gm to 500 gm. 200 gm packet is the most popular.

Milky Mushroom

Milky mushrooms (Calocybe indica) are warm loving mushroom species suitable for the subtropical and tropical climate types. Milky mushroom, otherwise known as summer mushroom, is a long-sized, white and attractive mushroom of India. It has some advantages over oyster mushroom as it is attractive in shape and colour. It is having a long shelf life of around one week, while the oyster mushroom usually perishes after one day at normal temperature.

1. Paddy
2. Paddy straw
3. Spawn
4. Calcium Carbonate
5. LPG for sterilisation
6. Mother spawn
7. Spawn for milky & oyester mushrooms
8. PP cover
9. Formalin
10. Bavestin
11. Packing cover
12. Compost for casing
13. Dettol, stapler, pin, twain etc

Many equipments and machinery are required for the spawn and mushroom production. They include cooler, humidifier, inoculation chamber etc.

The global mushroom sector size is projected to reach $50 billion within the next 7 years due to the massive demand for mushrooms from the past years. Mushrooms are expected to be proficient for nutrition as they produce minimal sodium and gluten material. Low fat and cholesterol quality is expected to result in increased customer perception of mushrooms.

 Main mushroom products comprise shiitake, button, oyster as well as other items including paddy mushrooms, milky mushrooms, reishi mushrooms, and winter mushrooms. Oysters and milky mushrooms get a strong domestic demand.

The market could be additionally divided by its usage, which involves dried and refined groups. The demand for mushrooms in the processing industry has increased considerably in recent years. Processed mushrooms are sold as canned, dried, and frozen. Apart from these types, processed mushrooms could include pickled mushrooms, dried mushrooms, and mushroom sauces.

Marketing Strategy

The Oyster and Milky mushroom have very much demand in the domestic as well as export market. As the public is highly aware of the nutritional and medicinal value of mushrooms, the rate of consumption has incredibly increased. The availability is the only problem. The promoter has a clear strategy to market the products through the following means:

1. Distribute in all vegetable shops in 200 gm packets
2. Distribute in supermarkets in attractive packets
3. Sale in government offices and schools
4. Sale through online web portals
5. Sale through exhibitions

The spawn can be sold to the small-scale mushroom cultivators in the district. Quality spawns have always a demand in the market.