Dharan. Roshan Gupta of Barahkshetra Municipality-11, Madhuban, who returned from foreign employment and started mushroom farming, has been earning Rs 1.5 million annually from mushroom cultivation. He started commercial mushroom farming in 2077 BS and has been saving Rs 1.2 million annually by deducting all expenses.

Roshan said he started commercial mushroom farming with an investment of Rs 50,000 in collaboration with his brother Bharat Gupta. Gupta, who returned home after working abroad for seven years, said he started farming with Rs 50,000 after deciding to invest the money he earned abroad. He said that millions of rupees have already been invested.

Gupta said, “Despite facing losses in the initial years, there has been a lot of income in recent times. More than Rs 1.2 million is saved annually by deducting all expenses. According to him, five tunnels are currently under cultivation of the pate variety of mushroom.

According to Gupta, mushrooms are being sold at Rs 180 to Rs 190 per kg in the market and Rs 150 per kg to traders coming to buy at farms. “Compared to last year, I have increased farming this year. Both production and price have increased,” he said, adding, “Mushrooms, which were sold at Rs 120 per kg at the same time last year, have now reached Rs 180 per kg.” In winter, it goes up to Rs 220. ’

Gupta feels that going abroad and sweating it out can increase expenses and hard work even if there is an income. He said that sweating in the country will get respect along with income. Stating that there is no shortage of market for the sale of mushrooms, Gupta said that the production reaches Dharan, Itahari, Inaruwa, Duhabi, Gaighat, Rajbiraj, Kalyanpur, Barahkshetra, Chatra and local markets to Kalabazar. With the expansion of agriculture, two people have been given employment on monthly salary and seven on daily wages as their family members have got jobs, he said.

“Being a business, there is a loss. But mushroom cultivation can be done on less land, which requires hard work and care,” Gupta said. According to him, the mushroom planted in Chaitra is harvestable from the end of April and produces about nine months in a year.

Stating that initially the problem was due to lack of knowledge and technology related to agriculture, Gupta said that both production and income have increased as the experience has increased. “Initially, everything seemed like testing, but now there is a lot of potential as we have become professional with skill development,” he said.

Straw, lime, bamboo, straw and plastic are required for mushroom cultivation, he said. Stating that it would be beneficial for health as pesticides were not used, he opined that the demand for ‘organic’ mushroom was constantly increasing. According to him, mushrooms are sold more in August-September. Gupta received Rs 100,000 from Sunsari Krishi Gyan Kendra in 2080 BS and Rs 90,000 from Barahkshetra Municipality last year. According to him, farming has become easier this year after getting mini-tractors from the municipality with 50 percent subsidy.