Mushroom Spawns Cultivation
Shanker Meena, originally from a village in Rajasthan, transformed his garage into the headquarters of ‘Jeevan Mushrooms.’
Witnessing his father’s struggles with traditional farming, Shanker sought alternative opportunities and dropped out of his MBA program to pursue his passion for agriculture and business.
Focusing on mushroom cultivation, he identified a gap in the market for mushroom spawns in Rajasthan and established a dedicated lab with modern equipment.
Shanker’s commitment to high-quality spawns set ‘Jeevan Mushroom’ apart.
Unlike others who compromise spawn quality, he emphasized the importance of maintaining a scientific approach for successful commercial mushroom production.
Despite challenges, including a setback causing a Rs 27 lakh loss, Shanker’s dedication and innovations earned him recognition.
In 2019, he received the Progressive & Innovative Farmer awards from the Rajasthan government, and in 2020, he was honored with the Innovative Agricultural Startup award by Startup India. ‘Jeevan Mushroom’ has achieved substantial success, exporting products internationally and generating an impressive monthly revenue of Rs 13 lakh.
In his pursuit of a more stable income, Shanker Meena decided to further his education in commerce. He enrolled in RA Podar Institute of Management to build a career in finance.
However, after completing his first semester in 2012, Shanker made the bold decision to drop out of college.
Expressing his journey, the MBA dropout shares, “Even though I took admission, my mind was constantly buzzing with new business ideas. Farming held a special place in my heart, and I was determined to find a way to merge it with business.”
A few years down the line, Shanker turned his dream into reality by establishing ‘Jeevan Mushroom.’
Currently, his monthly revenue has reached an impressive Rs 13 lakh, showcasing the success and growth of ‘Jeevan Mushroom’ on a global scale.
Mushroom Spawns Business Idea
Leaving his MBA program was a challenging choice for Shanker. He reflects, “People questioned my capabilities, insisting I needed to focus on building a career rather than venturing into business at such a young age.
“There were societal expectations for individuals from my caste to pursue careers like becoming IAS officers, but that was never my aspiration”.
To add to the irony, I dropped out of college after just one semester, defying the expectations of the villagers,” he chuckles.
The company specializes in selling spawns of various mushrooms, such as buttons, oysters, lion’s manes, paddy straws, shiitake, ganoderma, portobello, and more.
As of now, Shanker has built a substantial market presence, not only within India but also internationally. His products are exported to neighboring countries like Bhutan and Nepal, as well as the UAE.
In 2015, Shanker took a significant step by visiting the ICAR Director of Mushroom Research in Solan to gain a thorough understanding of the intricacies involved in mushroom cultivation.
Upon his return, he transformed a small room in his house into a dedicated space for cultivating mushrooms, laying the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.
Recognizing a gap in the market, Shanker noticed that Rajasthan lacked a mushroom spawns manufacturing unit.
People were relying on states like Himachal, Haryana, and Delhi for their seed supply. Identifying this gap as a golden opportunity, he decided to set himself apart in the industry.
Shanker obtained the mother culture from ICAR, Solan, and improvised a temporary lab set up in the garage of his house for trial cultivation of spawns.
Simultaneously, he secured a loan of Rs 9 lakhs under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana. Combining the loan with financial support from family and friends, he diligently worked on establishing a dedicated lab spanning an area of 9,000 sqft.
Within his newly established lab, Shanker implemented cutting-edge machinery to enhance the production process.
Advanced equipment such as seed germination chambers, vertical autoclaves, and a laminar airflow cabinet was introduced.
These additions aimed to create a sterile working environment, ultimately boosting productivity in the cultivation of mushroom spawns.
The incorporation of modern technology and equipment reflected Shanker’s commitment to ensuring high-quality and efficient manufacturing within his mushroom spawns unit.
After five years of dedicated research and development, Shanker officially inaugurated his company in 2017, and he managed it in collaboration with his wife, Kanchan Meena.
Leveraging the power of social media, he began receiving bulk orders for mushroom spawns.
At present, Shanker’s lab produces an impressive 80 tonnes of mushroom spawns. Priced between Rs 90-115 per kg, his spawns are in high demand across various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Assam.
The success of his venture demonstrates the widespread acceptance and popularity of ‘Jeevan Mushroom’ in the market.
WHY HE BECAME SUCCESSFUL
In the current scenario, mushroom cultivation has gained traction among small-scale farmers due to its low input costs, comparatively high yield, and favorable return on investment.
However, according to Shanker, many individuals struggle to maximize profits due to a lack of a scientific approach.
Shanker attributes the success of ‘Jeevan Mushroom’ to his unwavering emphasis on spawn quality, a facet often compromised in the industry.
He elucidates, “Unlike traditional crops such as wheat and vegetables, mushrooms don’t have seeds. They are fungi cultivated in sterile conditions within a lab.
To scale up production for commercial use, we need tissue culture and mother spawn to propagate the fungus and generate more spawns.”
This commitment to maintaining high-quality spawns sets his business apart in the mushroom cultivation sector.
Shanker highlights a common shortcut taken by farmers in the industry, where they multiply spawns using commercial spawns instead of preparing a distinct tissue culture and mother spawn. This shortcut compromises spawn quality, rendering them susceptible to diseases. The repercussions of this practice may not be immediately apparent, and farmers often realize the impact only when they experience a decline in yield.
Despite his current profitability, Shanker acknowledges the challenges of the business.
The Loss Bearings
He shares an instance of a setback where they incurred losses amounting to Rs 27 lakh due to complaints about low yield. Investigation revealed a minute hair-sized leakage in the machinery contaminating the spawns.
Reflecting on such challenges, Shanker admits to moments of discouragement and contemplating quitting.
However, he draws inspiration from his journey and achievements. Coming from a commerce background with limited exposure to laboratory equipment, each milestone becomes a source of motivation.
These experiences reinforce his commitment to the success of ‘Jeevan Mushroom,’ and he emphasizes the absence of a backup plan, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to the venture.
Shanker’s contributions and innovations in farming have not gone unnoticed. In 2019, he was honored with the Progressive & Innovative Farmer awards by the Rajasthan government, recognizing his forward-thinking approach to agriculture.
Additionally, in 2020, his efforts were acknowledged with the Innovative Agricultural Startup award by Startup India, further highlighting his entrepreneurial and innovative endeavors in the agricultural sector.
These accolades underscore Shanker’s significant impact and recognition within the farming and startup communities.
These accolades not only highlight Shanker’s substantial impact and recognition within the farming and startup communities but also serve as a compelling example for the youth.
Shanker’s journey encourages young individuals to consider agriculture as a viable and rewarding career path. His success story emphasizes the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture, showcasing the possibilities of making a meaningful contribution to the field, besides creating a stable career.
courtesy – few pics and news source: thebetterindia
