Mushrooms, Mustard and Flowers

Dear Reader,

Have you ever thought about what you can do with Rs 1,000? Of course, you can buy groceries, get a hobby tool, or purchase a book. But do you know you can also start a business with a Rs 1,000 investment that can yield a monthly turnover of Rs 2 lakh?

That’s the story of Pratibha Jha, who was married at 16 after completing her class 10. In Bihar’s patriarchal society, she has changed the narrative in her village by training in mushroom farming and starting a home business with a Rs 1000 investment. 

Today, she is a master trainer, having trained thousands of mushroom entrepreneurs. She told me she grows three varieties of mushrooms – milky white, button. and oyster -- and also prepares their spawns (seeds) for sale. Don’t miss reading Pratibha’s story because it combines a woman’s determination, fight against all odds, and reaping the fruits of success. 

My colleague Aruna wrote about three friends from Uttarakhand empowering farmers in Rajasthan through their cold-pressed oils. Satyam Bhandari, Rohit Negi and Mohit Rana set up Heart in Hills in 2021 to make cold-pressed oils under the Foreka brand. 

The startup works with 1,200 mustard growers who practice natural farming near the Chambal River in the Karauli district of Rajasthan. It is a tribal region where farmers live in forest areas and cultivate mustard. The company is set for a fourfold revenue growth to Rs 2.5 crore this fiscal.

My colleague Anu put together a piece on five floriculturists or flower farmers raking in a moolah due to the rising demand for flowers and ornamental plants across India. The government has granted 100 percent export-oriented status to floriculture. Due to high profitability in less space, many farmers are shifting from traditional food crops to flowers profitably.

Our Sunday story is on Krem Chympe, a river cave with natural dams and underground lakes in Meghalaya. The site, revered by the local Khasi tribe as the home of kind spirits, is gaining popularity as a tourist destination.

In the Money section, we have a piece on four things nobody tells you about owning a house. You will most likely discover them after the purchase. To know about them beforehand, look up the article!

Happy Reading!

Warmly,
Rashmi