How this mushroom farmer earns Rs 20,000 daily from just 2,000 sq ft

In a modest unit spread across just 2,000 sq ft in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Himanshu Saini and his wife harvest 100 to 150 kg of mushrooms every day. Sold across Saharanpur, Dehradun and Delhi, the produce fetches him an average of Rs 20,000 in daily income from a non-air-conditioned unit.

A 12th-pass with a stenography background, Himanshu started mushroom cultivation after online research.

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“I have seen many financial ups and downs. I was looking for a stable business with year-round demand and came across mushroom farming, which interested me,” he tells 30Stades.

In 2019, a year before COVID-19 disrupted livelihoods, he began studying business opportunities and noticed mushroom farming was relatively new and untapped in Saharanpur. He decided to experiment.

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Small beginning, strong returns

Himanshu received training at the ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan, and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Saharanpur. “In April 2019, I started oyster mushroom cultivation in a 70 sq ft room in my house,” he says.

He purchased 10 kg of spawn from Solan at Rs 150 per kg (including transport) and prepared 100 bags. The results were encouraging. “Over three flushes, I harvested around 200 kg of oyster mushrooms,” he says.

Every morning at 5 am, he would travel to Dehradun and sell the produce at Rs 110 per kg in the wholesale market.

“I earned Rs 22,000 with an investment of just about Rs 4,000, including spawns and compost material. The success made me realise that mushroom farming was commercially viable,” Himanshu says.

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Seasonal planning for a steady income

Understanding seasonality became central to his profitability. After completing oyster harvesting in May-June, he shifted to milky mushrooms from July to September as temperatures rose. “Milky mushrooms thrive in high temperatures and high humidity typical of the July to September months in north India,” he says.

In October, he transitioned to button mushrooms, which have a strong local demand. 

“I set up 500 bags using compost sourced from another grower and harvested around 1,000 kg, selling at Rs 100 per kg. The nearby market reduced transport costs and improved margins. I earned Rs 1 lakh with an investment of Rs 15,000,” Himanshu explains.

Even during the 2020 lockdown, when he was cultivating button mushrooms in March, he continued selling in local markets and Dehradun, ensuring cash flow during uncertain times.

Himanshu very well knows that training is essential for expansion “I continue to attend annual refresher programmes at KVK even now. That helped me diversify to production of exotic and medicinal mushroom varieties, which sell at high rates,” he says.

Also Read: Engineer couple builds Rs 15 crore business of exotic mushrooms; first to grow wild gucchi indoors

High-value exotic mushrooms boost margins

In 2025, after further training at KVK Saharanpur, Himanshu began focused cultivation of shiitake mushrooms. He started with 100 small bags, harvesting around 500 grams per bag, resulting in a total of 50 kg.

Initially sold in Dehradun at Rs 500 per kg, demand for shiitake mushrooms increased quickly. The offers went up to Rs 900 per kg, and today he earns an average of around Rs 1,700 per kg, supplying wholesalers in Delhi.

Himanshu now also grows lion’s mane, king oyster, ganoderma, reishi, Florida oyster and pink oyster mushrooms. “These are high-value mushrooms with niche demand but good market rates,” he says.

“Lion’s mane sells at Rs 700–800 per kg, King oyster at Rs 300 per kg, and Florida and pink oyster mushrooms at Rs 120 per kg, depending on market situation,” he says.

Earning Rs 20,000 daily

On average, Himanshu produces 100 to 150 kg of mushrooms daily across varieties. With an overall blended average of about Rs 120 per kg and much higher margins from exotics like shiitake, his daily income reaches approximately Rs 20,000. "After deducting operational expenses, the profit is around Rs 14,000 per day," he says.

Also Read: Bhopal woman grows exotic mushrooms in 200 sq ft; clocks Rs 5 lakh monthly turnover

His sales are primarily to wholesalers in Saharanpur, Dehradun and Delhi, ensuring bulk movement and steady cash flow. “Retail sales are limited but help build brand recognition,” he says.

Harvesting is a family effort. Himanshu and his wife manage daily harvesting and maintenance of moisture levels and hygiene. They have also hired people for the preparation of bags. “Consistency in production and supply keeps buyers loyal,” he says.

Scaling to 2,000 sq ft without AC

Today, Himanshu has a 2,000 sq ft unit without expensive air-conditioning. Instead, he relies on a low-cost hut model with climate-control techniques.

“The structure and roof are made of mud, which keeps the interiors naturally cool. I put wheat straw (bhossa) on the roof as it is highly effective for insulation. Straw is lightweight, porous, and has excellent thermal properties,” he says.

To maintain humidity, he uses coolers and even ice during peak heat to regulate temperature.

“Hygiene and sterilisation need to be strictly maintained, especially in summer months when chances of contamination are higher,” he says.

He grows shiitake, button, king oyster, and lion’s mane mushrooms from October to February during winter. “From March onwards, I switch to milky mushroom, followed by the oyster varieties. I grow Florida oyster, king oyster, pink oyster and regular oyster mushrooms,” he says.

Before one season ends, preparation for the next begins. “Bags have to be ready in advance to avoid demand-supply gaps,” he says.

Himanshu has moved beyond farming to mushroom entrepreneurship as he understands seasonality, market demand and cost control. “Winter mushrooms thrive naturally in the region’s climate, reducing input costs. The mud hut minimises investment and recurring expenses. Annual training keeps me updated on best practices,” he says.

(Rashmi Pratap is a Mumbai-based journalist specialising in financial, business and socio-economic reporting).

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