Mushroom Farming: 21 Rules for Success

By Roby Jose Ciju

Mushroom farming has become very popular worldwide owing to the fact that mushroom farming is relatively easy and requires less space and less investment. Economic returns on investment are also high in mushroom farming. Mushroom farming is an attractive low-cost entrepreneurial option because mushrooms can successfully be grown by using even primitive farming technologies. This low technology approach to mushroom farming may be one of the reasons behind its popularity as a small scale farm enterprise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Agrihortico
• Release date: Mar 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393044086

Book preview

Mushroom Farming: 21 Rules for Success

Roby Jose Ciju

Published by Agrihortico, 2021.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

MUSHROOM FARMING: 21 RULES FOR SUCCESS

First edition. March 17, 2021.

Copyright © 2021 Roby Jose Ciju.

ISBN: 978-1393044086

Written by Roby Jose Ciju.

Mushroom Farming: 21 Rules for Success

Roby Jose Ciju

Copyright © 2019 AGRIHORTICO

All rights reserved.

https://www.agrihortico.com

Mushrooms: An Introduction

Mushroom farming has become very popular worldwide owing to the fact that mushroom farming is relatively easy and requires less space and less investment. Economic returns on investment are also high in mushroom farming. Mushrooms are fast growing organisms and some tropical species can be harvested within two weeks of spawning. Multiple harvests are possible in a mushroom farm venture. Sometimes as many as six harvests may be done in a single year.

Mushrooms easily adapt to various climatic conditions and therefore climate-related production risks are eliminated up to some extent. Mushroom farming is an attractive low-cost entrepreneurial option because mushrooms can successfully be grown by using even primitive farming technologies. This low technology approach to mushroom farming may be one of the reasons behind its popularity as a small scale farm enterprise.

Mushroom farming is not only suited for small ventures but for commercial production also. In commercial production facilities, high-end technologies are used for large scale production and processing of mushrooms.

According to the industry experts, mushroom farming may be the only answer to three basic social problems faced by the entire world: shortage of food; environmental pollution and poor quality of human health.

There is a growing demand for mushrooms around the world owing to the fact that mushrooms are one of the cheapest sources of high quality food. They are health-enhancing low-fat, low-calorie foods rich in multivitamins, crude fibre and easily digestible protein. Mushrooms also possess several tonic and medicinal properties.

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Figure 1: Mushroom Farming

Advantages of Mushroom Farming

Eco-Friendly Farming Technology

Mushroom farming is environment friendly. Mushroom farming can be done successfully with cheap and easily available raw materials. Any organic materials, viz. crop residues, animal manures, decaying plant matter etc that are available locally can easily be converted to mushroom compost thus creating a clean ecosystem in the process. The spent substrate available after mushroom harvest can be used as a livestock feed that is rich in protein. Or else it can be used as organic crop mulch.

Short-Return Agribusiness Venture

Mushroom farming is a short-return agribusiness venture and is possible throughout the year. Tropical mushroom varieties such as Paddy Straw Mushrooms and Oyster Mushrooms are fast growing mushroom strains and can be harvested in 3 to 4 weeks after spawn inoculation. Market for fresh and processed mushrooms is also stable. Therefore mushroom farming brings immediate economic benefits to the grower.

Low Cost Enterprise

Mushroom farming is a low cost enterprise. Mushroom production requires a low-technology approach which can be mastered by anyone who has a little interest in mushroom growing. Many of the production and marketing constraints that are limiting other farm production ventures are not applicable to this venture. First of all, mushroom farming is low-technology approach; there are no high-cost investments involved in starting a mushroom production unit. Secondly, all the raw materials required to start a mushroom farm are cheap and in most cases available locally. Finally, it is easy to find a market for both fresh and processed mushrooms.

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Figure 2: A Mushroom Farm

21 Rules for Success in Mushroom Farming

You want to start a low cost mushroom farm but you do not know how to go about it. Don’t worry; all you have to do is to follow these simple rules.

Rule 1: Know Everything about Mushrooms

Rule 2: Know the Purpose of Your Mushroom Farm

Rule 3: Prepare a Plan for the Project

Rule 4: Plan a Production Technology Based on Local Climatic Conditions and Locally Available Substrate and Mushroom Strains

Rule 5: Choose an ‘Easy-to-Grow’, Locally Popular Mushroom Strain

Rule 6: Choose Locally Available Substrate Materials

Rule 7: Buy Good Quality Spawns or Prepare Your Own Spawn Culture

Rule 8: Choose the Best Facilities and the Best Location

Rule 9: Prepare Your Own Mushroom Compost

Rule 10: Sterilize the Mushroom Compost Properly

Rule 11: Gain Expertise in Spawn Inoculation and Spawn Run Care

Rule 12: Know How to Manage the Mushroom