How India could become a 'mushroom superpower'

Image source, Anirban Nandy

Fulrida Ekka knew she had to find a new source of income when she was three years old.

She didn't have enough money to support her family after her husband's death.

She was looking for money making ideas and found mushroom farming. Live Life happily helped her get started.

She makes $92 a month selling two or three bags of mushrooms.

The mushrooms are grown in large bags in the ceiling. Around 48 bags of mushrooms are produced every month by Mrs Ekka.

She says it's a sight of joy when she sees it growing because she knows her family will not sleep on an empty stomach.

Image source, Live Life Happily

Mushroom growing has changed Mrs Ekka's life, but some think it should make a bigger contribution to India's farming sector.

Rouf Hamza Boda, who has spent 20 years identifying 100 types of mushrooms across Jammu and Kashmir, said that India has all the required elements for becoming a super power in mushroom production.

India has a lot of mushrooms. He explains that there is a lot of compost material and cheap labour.

China provides 75% of the world's mushroom production, with India accounting for 2%.

Many people in India don't like eating mushrooms and that's one of the reasons for the problem.

He says there hasn't been much research on the identification of wild mushrooms.

Lack of awareness as to how beneficial mushrooms are is a hurdle in popularising consumption.

Entrepreneurs are willing to take a chance.

Image source, Leena's Mushroom Farm

Four years ago, Leena Thomas and Jithu tried to grow mushrooms.

Jithu said he started the project out of curiosity after seeing mushrooms on the internet.

His hobby turned into a thriving business after he gained initial success.

Leena's Mushroom is a company run by a mother and son duo from the state of Kerala.

Mushroom farming has many advantages.

It's not an easy task, that's for sure. The crop is very delicate. The crop can be ruined by a minute change in temperature or pests.

The firm's greenhouse uses fans to draw outside air over moist pads to keep the temperature and humidity in check. The level of carbon dioxide is being watched.

Image source, Leena's Mushroom Farm

It's worthwhile. Mushroom prices make themlucrative, according to him.

Retailers can buy fresh mushrooms on the same day.

Parimal Udgave has changed his approach. He studied to learn more about the organisms.

His business Biobritte dries the crop to make mushroom powders and health supplements.

Mushroom growing is difficult despite his success.

He says that people think mushrooms are a fast, money-making business but it also has to be combined with technical skills.

Many mushroom businesses fail.

Image source, Biobritte

There is a lot of room for small players in the mushroom market according to Anirban Nandy and his wife.

Fulrida Ekka was shown how to grow her own mushrooms by Live Life happily.

Mr Nandy says that the women are poor with no land or means of income.

After becoming widows, many women in rural areas are left penniless and unable to make ends meet.

It's easy to learn to grow mushrooms. He says that the women can grow in a corner of their house as a hobby or part time activity.

The Nandys say there is a lot of customer demand. Mr Nandy says that it's important to ensure quick income in Darjeeling.

Extra mushrooming income can make a big difference in a person's life.

Women have gained decision-making power in their house. Mrs Nandy says that a woman refused to marry her daughter at an early age because she couldn't afford it.