Haryana farmer earns Rs 50 lakh annually from mushroom cultivation on one acre

Kiratpal Singh, a 33-year-old graduate from Tohana, Haryana, had plans to settle in Canada in 2018. He had secured a visa and spent nearly 20 days in the country exploring permanent settlement. However, after a conversation with his elder brother Avtar Singh, he decided to invest the money intended for immigration into mushroom cultivation.

The brothers redirected approximately Rs 50 lakh, which had been set aside for immigration and settlement expenses, into their new venture. Kiratpal said, “Even after spending such a huge amount, life abroad is not easy. One has to arrange a house, buy a vehicle and bear heavy living expenses. My brother felt it would be better to build something of our own here.”

Starting in 2018 with four to five temporary mushroom-growing sheds and an investment of around Rs 15 lakh, the brothers gradually expanded. Today, their farm in Akanwali village, Fatehabad district, has 14 climate-controlled mushroom production chambers spread over one acre, with total investment exceeding Rs 3 crore.

The enterprise now sells mushrooms worth nearly Rs 3 crore annually through the Ludhiana wholesale market. According to Avtar Singh, 38, the profit per crop cycle in each room is about Rs 80,000 after deducting costs of labour, electricity, and other inputs. With nearly five crop cycles per year, each room generates around Rs 4 lakh annually, leading to a total annual profit of approximately Rs 50 lakh from all 14 rooms.

Avtar’s journey into farming began after his father’s death when he discontinued his studies after matriculation and entered agriculture full-time in 2005. He initially cultivated vegetables on nearly 20 acres along with his uncle’s family, which collectively owns about 32 acres. After 2018, they phased out vegetable farming and focused on mushroom cultivation.

The brothers have added value by establishing a composting unit and cold storage. The spent mushroom substrate is converted into compost, reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers like urea and DAP. Avtar claimed that soil health has improved significantly, with wheat yields rising from around 22 quintals per acre to approximately 28 quintals per acre.

The idea for mushroom cultivation came from observations during visits to wholesale markets. “When we used to take vegetables to the mandi, we noticed that mushrooms consistently fetched attractive prices. That prompted us to explore the crop seriously,” Avtar said.

The brothers procure mushroom spawn from suppliers in Punjab’s Jalandhar district and Haryana’s Sonipat district at around Rs 80 per kilogram. They plan to expand further in the coming years.