Exotic Fruits and Exotic Mushrooms

Dear Reader,

Have you ever considered starting a business but stepped back due to risks? Many of my friends and acquaintances have spent years planning to quit their jobs but never took the risk.

I feel that instead of postponing taking the plunge, one should test the waters by making small investments, analysing the returns, and then making a decision. Some of the entrepreneurs I know have done just that – starting small, minimising risks and expanding once they understood the business well.

This is what Dr Basu Choudhary did when she started growing oyster mushrooms in a room in her house with an investment of under Rs 1000. She did not expand for three years to understand the process, product, market and revenues well. That was in 2013. 

Today, Basu clocks an annual turnover of Rs 60 lakh from exotic mushrooms like shiitake, king oysters, lion’s mane, reishi, and cordyceps. She told me she also prepares mushroom mother culture and spawn in her lab spread over just 200 sq ft in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 

With buyers across India, Basu still finds the time to train rural women in oyster mushroom farming without a fee. 

From Kerala, my colleague Chandhini wrote about an engineer-turned-exotic fruit entrepreneur. India’s farming sector is transforming rapidly as people from different professions like engineering, management, teachers and even doctors are getting involved in agriculture.

They may not be tilling the land, but they have hydroponic or aeroponic setups, are connecting farmers with consumers or forming producer companies to benefit the growers.

Kartik Suresh’s Fresh ‘N’ Good, which started in 2021, is one such venture. It sources exotic fruits like abiu, mangosteen, rambutan, passion fruit and jackfruit varieties at guaranteed prices from over 200 farmers in Kerala. 

Interestingly, he processes jackfruits into ready-to-eat pods and packages them for sale. The guaranteed pricing model provides growers with a fair and stable market and buyers with fresh produce. His products also reach the Gulf and the USA. The venture clocked Rs 1.5 crore in turnover in FY 25. Do look up his story.

A growing global demand for medicinal plants in pharmaceuticals, wellness and cosmetics industries makes their farming profitable for farmers. My colleague Anu has written about five such agripreneurs earning lakhs from aloe vera, turmeric, tulsi, lemongrass and other medicinal plants.

Our Sunday story is about Battisi Baoli, a 540-year-old stepwell in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh. The most intriguing feature of this baoli is its mysteriously constant water level regardless of seasons. How? Read on to know.

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi

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

Engineer takes exotic fruits and jackfruit varieties from Kerala to the world; clocks Rs 1.5 crore annual turnover

Five farmers earning lakhs from medicinal plant farming

Battisi Baoli: The 540-year-old stepwell where water level is mysteriously constant throughout the year