Mushroom agripreneurship gaining traction among non-farmers: TNAU

Mushroom agripreneurship is attracting not just farmers but a cross-section of individuals in the western region, given the promise of high returns and a wide demand-supply gap, according to faculty at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).

The TNAU, which conducts training programmes in mushroom cultivation on the fifth of every month, has witnessed increasing participation from software professionals post-COVID, said G. Thirubhuvanamala, Associate Professor (Plant Pathology), TNAU, and that farmers now account only for 20 to 25 per cent of participants.

For instance, against the demand of 18 tonnes per day for mushrooms, the extent of production hovers between eight and 10 tonnes. Entrepreneurship conversion ratio is well above 10 percent, she said.

The question of competition does not arise as the demand-supply gap is quite high. Mushrooms sold for ₹200 in the Western districts cost over 350 per kg in Chennai and the mushrooms sold through malls also command the same price, Prof. Thirubhuvanamala said. Cultivators adopt different marketing strategies: direct sales to hotels and apartments, and supply to retail outlets.

Button mushroom, which has a shelf life of four to five days, accounts for 80 per cent of cultivation. Oyster mushroom lasts for only two and a half days. Milky mushroom is packaged and sent to Kerala and Andhra for ₹350 per kg. “The profit margin is quite high. One rupee of investment in mushroom fetches returns of ₹2.50,” Prof. Thirubhuvanamala said.

According to TNAU data, mushroom cultivation takes place to a large extent in the Western region of Tamil Nadu in six contiguous districts. Coimbatore and Erode districts are where mushroom cultivation is the highest followed by Namakkal, Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri.

Tamil Nadu accounts for 8.3 per cent of the mushroom production in India. Prof. Thirubhuvanamala said there are 450 to 650 oyster mushroom growers and over 50 button mushroom growers in Tamil Nadu, underscoring the large scope for broad-based production.