“In Bhusal, my one acre land was near the Markanda river and it was mostly flooded. I kept suffering losses until I finally decided to move to a better place. I was initially unsure of uprooting our lives from there but now I know it was the best decision ever,” he says.

In mushroom season — September to March — he now sells around Rs 70 to 75 lakh. Despite owning 3.75 acres, he grows mushrooms in around 20 makeshift huts measuring 60×30 feet each in just 1.5 acres. He builds the huts every September and dismantles them in April to sow Basmati 1509 in May end through direct seeding Rice (DSR) technology on the same 1.5 acres land, which he harvests in September. This dual farming approach not only gives him a good income round-the-year but also ensures maximize yield.

To create a perfect ecosystem, he carefully constructs shelves in the 12-feet-high huts, nurtures the spawns in bags for 35-40 days to get the first flush. After three yields, he replaces the bags the grows fresh spawn in the seven-month cycle.

His each hut yields approximately 40 quintals and his harvest starts from October, which totals an impressive 350 to 400 kg daily and around 800 quintals (80,000 Kg) in a season. He sells his produce in the market himself, which fetches him Rs 75 to Rs 120 per kg depending on demand daily.

“After removing the huts in April, I prepare for Basmati 1509 cultivation, which begins in May with DSR and is harvested in September,” says Baldev.

He sells his produce in the market himself, which fetches him Rs 75 to Rs 120 per kg depending on demand daily. (Express Photo)

His annual mushroom sales ranging between Rs 70 to Rs 75 lakh underscores the profitability of the venture. Despite the substantial revenues, his operational costs remain at approximately Rs 2.75 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per hut, including labour, compost production, seeds, packaging, and transportation to markets.

He employs 20 people, including several women from the local community, for 7-8 months annually. He not only supports their livelihoods but also fosters economic growth in his area.

Baldev attributes much of his experience in mushroom farming and latest expertise to training received from the Kristi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Hoshiarpur, where he honed his skills in making compost, which is the primary ingredient to grow the produce. “I use a poly sheet during winters to cover the huts from roof to maintain the required temperature,” he says, adding that he has assisted many small and marginal farmers in Punjab and Haryana to establish their mushroom farms.

He prepares compost in insulated pasteurization chambers equipped with steam heating and air circulation. This venture requires a significant investment, with each chamber costing Rs 20 lakh to set up. The compost prepared by this method, which is prepared in 10-12 days, is superior to the othet longer method, as it results in higher productivity of the mushroom crop and reduces risk of diseases, pests, and nematodes. The formula for preparing compost using the short method involves wheat straw, poultry litter, wheat bran, urea, and gypsum.

“Each hut requires around 70 quintals of compost. I cultivate mushrooms both in bags and directly on shelves by layering compost. After filling the bags with compost, they are placed on the shelves, and then the spawning process begins, which involves implanting mushroom spawn into the compost. The bags are covered with paper for a few days, followed by casing, where a suitable soil mixture is uniformly spread. This soil mixture retains moisture and supports the growth of mushroom pinheads, facilitating their rapid development into buttons,” says Baldev, adding that he received a subsidy of Rs 16 lakh from the government for one such chamber to make compost and he has applied for subsidies for two additional chambers a year ago.

While the first flush comes in 35-40 days, the second comes in 50 days, and the third in 60 days. He oversees packing at his farm and then sells the mushrooms in various mandis across Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Jalandhar.

“The first three flushes yield well, but the yield gradually decreases. We replace old bags with new ones to maintain good yield throughout the season,” he says.

Maninder Singh Bons, associate director of training at KVK Bahowal, Hoshiarpur, says despite being a small farmer, Baldev surpassed many large-scale farmers in earnings by implementing innovative ideas and leveraging training from KVK. “There is a substantial demand for mushrooms in the state, and one can start cultivation even in a small area. Mushrooms are a source of vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, and copper, selenium, phosphorus, potassium and iron. It also helps prevent cancer, decreases cholesterol levels, strengthens the immune system, regularises the blood insulin level and contains the most digestible vitamin D,” he says.

Ajaib Singh, assistant professor at KVK Bahowal, says, “Cheema’s story shows there is a potential for even small and marginal farmers to make it big. It is also true that those who dare to innovate, reap benefits.”

Cheema adds that during training, experts had told him that mushroom is an excellent food to combat malnutrition. “Small and marginal farmers can start cultivation with a small investment on a 20×60 feet plot (just 4 per cent of one acre land) and can earn Rs 40,000 to 50,000 in 3-4 four months,” he adds.

According to Punjab Horticulture department officials, China’s per capita mushroom consumption is the
highest with 14 kg per annum, while Europe has 2-3 kg per capita per annum consumption and India’s consumption is one of the lowest at 20-25 gm per head per annum.