Identification
Questionnaire Answers
[1] How much is the primary investment required for Mushroom Cultivation? What is the minimum area where mushroom can be cultivated for commercial purpose?
The primary investment for mushroom cultivation depends on the kind of mushroom species and its requirements, the level of technology utilized and the volume of product. Someone can start a mushroom culture set spending a few hundred dollars, making use of simple and inexpensive devices for substrate preparation or, on the contrary, a high cost system involving hundred thousand dollars by utilizing mixing machines, steam boilers and specialized peoples. Cultivation growing houses are also an important component for cost evaluation. Thatch houses are cheaper and maintains temperature and air moisture dispensing climate controlling devices, but its use is best recommended for small growers. The species chosen and volume of mushroom produced determine the kind of technology and infrastructure necessary. The button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is the more expensive species. This mushroom grows on composted substrate whose preparation needs industrial loaders, pasteurization chambers, biggest growing house with insulation and nebulization and ventilation equipment among others high cost components that increase dramatically the initial inversions, beside of.
[2] How many different varieties of Mushroom could be cultivated in a small set up? Please also tell about market value of mushroom?
The primary decomposer species are the best choice for small set cultivation. These varieties of mushrooms do not need prior composting of the materials used for substrate preparation. They grew quickly and have ability to degrade a large number of agro industrial wastes, such as banana stalk, sugarcane bagasse, sawdust, coconut shell, paper, textile residues, etc. The most common species of primary decomposers are oyster mushroom (and the Pleurotus tribe) shiitake or oak mushroom (Lentinula edodes), paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvaceae) and milky mushroom (Calocybe indica).
[3] How to decide what kind of Mushroom can be cultivated?
The variety characteristics should be known, it´s the first aspect to be considered. These characteristics are also called Growth Parameters that include temperature, CO2 concentration light requirements for spawn run, primordial formation and fuitbody development and cropping cycle that hold out from 3 to 16 weeks depending on the species. The second point to take into account is raw material availability, such as straws, sugarcane bagasse, cotton agrowastes and other cellulosic materials. The third point is the local environment characteristics. Temperature, air humidity and/or seasonal climate variation along the year are important factor for mushroom physiological development. Confronting these three aspects it will find a consistent criterion for the kind of Mushroom to be cultivated.
[4] Amongst all the varieties which are sold fresh and which are sold dry or both (fresh and dry)?
All varieties mentioned before, except the button white mushroom, can be sold fresh or dry. The criteria for processing or not mushroom are the volume of product and distance between the growers and the buyers. Shelve life of the kind of mushroom also should be account to decide to dry it.
[5] What are the procedures to follow up to start the mushroom cultivation viz., need any licence or certificate from Food Processing Authority or any other formalities to start with?
Mushrooms are considered as horticultural products and commonly do not need special licenses for cultivation. However, is depends on the local laws, commercial demands or use of post-harvest processes. This situation is found when mushrooms are canned. In case of canned mushrooms safe health conditions is necessary, because it involves an industrial process with a large volume of product, and harsh standards are established by Food Processing Authorities. Organic culture of mushroom also needs special certification. In this, case the organic certification is a complicate question once this kind of culture requires certification of all related process, such as raw materials, manure, supplements, and spent or other residue destination.
[6] What are the prospects of mushroom marketing in India. How can mushroom grower can contact the buyers of Mushroom?
Agriculture is a main strength of economy in India. The great variety and large volumes of cellulosic residues generate by crops are, in most cases, suitable for mushroom substrate preparation. Then, mushroom culture appears an great alternative of sustainability. In other hand, the lack in protein supply allied to global population growth becomes it into a considerable alternative for food security. In India, the mushroom production shot up from mere 5,000 tonnes in 1990 to over 100,000 tonnes in 2010. The areas where is concentrated mushroom production in India are the temperate regions for the button mushroom, and tropical and sub-tropical for oyster, paddy straw and others tropical mushrooms. Seasonal cultures for button mushroom are done outdoor with one crop for season only, while two or three crops are achieved in growing houses for the same species. In case of others species, paddy straw, oyster, shiitake or milky mushroom, more than three crops are produced per annum in growing houses. Actually in India, like in others developing countries, demonstrate be a promising economic activity.
In regard to relations between producers and buyers, I believe that the former should organize themselves in Associations to realize commercial and logistic operations. By means of Associations or Cooperative Companies growers can provide more easily contact to buyer as well as negotiate price and time of payment.
[7] If someone is growing one kind of mushroom variety then is it possible to switch to another variety in the same area and infrastructure after sometime?
By utilizing appropriate technology and strains, the grower may not only switch to another variety but also cultivate two or more species simultaneously, since observing time of life cycle, environmental conditions (light, temperature, air humidity) and nutritional requirements of strains. Oyster and milky mushroom, for example, may be cultivate both in the same growing house at same time.
[8] What are the factors to be considered to have best quality of mushroom produced? The factors affecting mushroom quality are fruitbody size and shape, health safety, absence of microbial and chemical contamination. The criterion that warrant this factors are determined by genetic quality of strains and technology used for substrate preparation and mushroom growing.
[9] In how much time one can expect the returns from Mushroom cultivation?
Depending on the technological level and area size, return can be achieved at first crops (in small set culture) or since first year of crop (in great investments). However the rate of return is function of price practiced by market.
[10] What are the important points to be known before starting the mushroom cultivation?
I believe that important points were shown in previous questions. However, like all well planned commercial activity, mushroom cultivation has to take into account localization, distance between grower and buyer, raw material and growth technology availability. After these important points are considered, an economic evaluation should be done in a worksheet of any software. It is auspicious that mushroom growing is integrate to traditional activities as agriculture, husbandry or poultry since crops and animal farm wastes may be used as raw material for mushroom and mushroom wastes may be used as crop fertilizes or animal feed. This kind of strategies would reinforce both distinct activities.
