Five years ago, her monthly salary was Rs 15,000 working as a supervisor in a private company. But today, 49-year-old Chithralekha AjayaKumar of Kannur in Kerala makes Rs 5,000 every single day, earning a monthly revenue of Rs 1.5 lakh. Being a successful mushroom farmer for the last five years has given this economics graduate from Vengad the financial capacity to buy 20 cents of land and construct a two-storey house for her family.
“I wouldn’t have owned a house of my own if I had continued in my job. A small decision to try mushroom farming on an experimental basis after seeing one of my friends doing it completely changed my life. I started small with a single bed of mushrooms by investing Rs 35, borrowing the seeds and other required materials from my friend. I reinvested the money which I got by selling the mushrooms from my first bed to set up the second bed. Only after I mastered the technique of growing mushrooms did I start gradually investing in expanding the number of beds. I am happy that my patience and hard work paid off when I could set up a dedicated mushroom farm and get regular customers for the mushrooms,” Chithralekha told “Open Digest“.
Today, Chithralekha has 2,000 beds harvesting 10 to 12 kilograms of fresh mushrooms on a daily basis. Though she started selling mushrooms through supermarkets and grocery stores in Kannur, now customers directly visit her farm to buy fresh mushrooms plucked from the beds. “I get Rs 500 per kilogram and my customers are regular. Mushrooms are packed with amino acids, antioxidants, and proteins. Studies have revealed several health benefits of mushrooms,” Chithralekha said.
She advises her customers to consume mushrooms on the first day of harvest, though they can be stored in refrigerators for five days without any damage. “While storing in refrigerators, we must ensure that the mushrooms do not become frozen. We need to wrap a paper over the plastic cover in which mushrooms are packed while keeping it in the fridge. I generally advise my customers to cook and consume them on the first day of harvest itself,” she added.
As there is a huge demand for quality mushrooms in the market and more people are getting into mushroom cultivation, Chithralekha has a word of advice for those who are investing money in mushroom farming.
“There are several agencies which lure people by promising to help set up mushroom farms that can give good returns. Please do not fall for such temptations. You need to start small, fully learn how to grow healthy and quality mushrooms, find a market for regular supply and sales before investing more money to expand the farm,” she said.
