Road to prosperity: Mushroom farming transforms fortune of Chamned farmer

Raj Kumar, a resident of Chamned village, has successfully turned his financial struggles into prosperity through mushroom cultivation. Facing limited opportunities as a welder in rural areas and challenges in traditional rain-dependent farming, Raj sought alternative income sources. With support and training from the Horticulture Department, he ventured into mushroom farming, benefiting from a 50% government subsidy to establish his farm.

Starting with 100 mushroom bags, Raj gradually expanded to 400 bags. During peak seasons, he harvests around 1.25 quintals of mushrooms daily, producing 500-600 packets of 200 gram each. Selling these packets at Rs 20 in the local market, Raj earns approximately Rs 10,000-12,000 daily. While the initial investment for bags is about Rs. 50,000, excluding infrastructure costs, his income has significantly improved his family’s quality of life. “Mushrooms have transformed my economy and enhanced my family’s living standards,” Raj remarked.

Deputy Director of Horticulture Rajeshwar Parmar highlighted the success of Raj Kumar as an inspiration for others. “Government schemes like mushroom farming, sericulture, and orchard development can bring prosperity when effectively utilised,” he said. Encouraging farmers to adopt composite farming practices, he emphasised the potential of such initiatives to boost incomes and livelihoods.

Raj Kumar’s story demonstrates how government support and innovative farming can create sustainable opportunities in rural areas.