BUTTON MUSHROOM CULTIVATION PROMISING AGRI-BUSINESSPRESENTED BYHIND AGRO FOODS PVT. LTD.

INTRODUCTION. WHITE BUTTON MUSHROOMMushrooms are primitive organisms known as fungi. These grow saprophytic on dead organic matter. Mushrooms are fruit bodies or reproductive structures emanating from the mycelium. Mushroom is a rare food commodity which is Protein rich but low calorie and 100% vegetarian. Endowed with vitamins, minerals, crude fibres but almost free of fats and starchy matter. Absolutely devoid of cholesterol Thus Mushrooms make tremendous food sense for children, obese, diabetic, executives, figure cautious women and also people who are suffering from ailments ranging from ordinary constipation complaints to severe blood pressure and heart problems. In a nutshell Mushrooms are ideal for all ages, healthy and sick alike. In addition to above mentioned goodness, Mushrooms, if introduced in regular diet over a period of time have been found to reduce the blood cholesterol levels as well as hypertension of adversely affected people. Lately some mushroom varieties have been found to possess anti tumour activity and some other medicinal properties.

FOOD VALUE OF MUSHROOMSMushrooms are being used as the food since time immemorial. These have been considered as the delicacy. From nutritional point of view Mushrooms are placed between meat and vegetables. These are rich in protein, carbohydrates and vitamins. Mushrooms are low in caloric value and hence are recommended for heart and diabetic patients. Besides vitamins they also contain minerals like potassium, sodium and phosphorus in high quantities. Since Mushrooms possess low caloric value, high protein, high fibre and high K : Na ratio it is ideally suited for diabetic and hypertension patients. They are also reported to possess anti cancer activities. They are rich in proteins as compared to cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables on dry weight basis. In addition to proteins (3.7%) they also contain carbohydrates (2.4%), Fat (0.4%), Minerals (0.6%) and water (91%) on fresh weight basis. Mushroom proteins are full of essential amino acids that are required to be present in the diet of human being. These proteins are particularly rich in Tryptophan and lysine while vegetable proteins normally lack these two essential amino acids.

CULTIVATION PROCESSCultivation process is divided into two major activities.A) - Composting,B) - GrowingA. COMPOSTINGMushroom grows on composted organic materials. Button mushroom requires partially composted material for growth. Compost is selective substrate prepared from different raw materials like wheat straw, soyabean straw, Bagasse, Sugarcane leaves, paddy straw, Chicken manure & Gypsum. Phase I: This stage involves the mixing and primary decomposition of the raw materialsPhase II: Carried out indoors in specific designed room. The compost is pasteurised and conditioned within strict temperature zones.PREWETTINGAll raw materials of right quality are dry mixed as per decided formulation. These homogenous dry mixed materials are then added with water. By frequent turnings moisture of this substrate are taken up to 74%. This process takes 3 to 4 days.

CULTIVATION PROCESSPhase - I This homogenous mixed compost is filled in fermentation chamber called as Phase- I tunnel. In this tunnel oxygen concentration in compost is maintained so that it remains aerobic and composting process goes on. Within seven days this process completes.Phase- II: After phase- I process the compost is pasteurised so that all unwanted micro organisms are killed. After pasteurization of 8 hours the compost is conditioned at 45 to 50 degree Celsius in which different thermopiles fungi, actinomycetes grow and Ammonia released is fixed into Lignohumus compound.SPAWN MIXINGAfter completion of phase- II: process compost is cooled down to 23 to 25 degree Celsius. Then spawn is mixed in compost properly. Spawn addition rate is 70 to 80 grams per bag. Average weight of compost bag is 12 kg. Filled bags of spawn mixed compost are transported to Growing Rooms.

CULTIVATION PROCESSB. GROWING ROOM FILLINGSpawn mixed compost bags are loaded on racks in growing room. After placing the bags 4 to 5 grams spawn is spread on compost surface per bag and bags are tied neatly.SPAWN RUNMycelium from grains starts to penetrate the compost. Within a period of 14 days mycelium will colonise through out the compost and initial dark brown compost will appear completely white. In this stage compost temperature is maintained 24 to 26 degree Celsius.CASE RUNA specially prepared casing soil by mixing coir pith and clay is applied over the exposed compost surface. Seventy grams per bag well grown compost is added to casing soil in order to accelerate growth. Thickness of casing soil is kept 2 inches. Casing soil in order to accelerate the growth of mycelium. Parameters to be maintained in this stage:-Compost temperature 26 to 27 degree Celsius, RH 90 to 95%, CO2 10000 PPM to 12000 PPM. This stage takes 5 to 6 days

CULTIVATION PROCESSFLUSHINGWhen mycelium appears on surface, climatic conditions are changed to initiate the fruiting bodies. For this purpose CO2 is lowered from 10000 PPM to 1000 PPM. Compost temperature is lowered from 28 to 20 degree Celsius. And RH lowered from 95 to 90% within a period of 48 hours.PINNINGTwo days after completion of flushing small pinheads will start appearing on soil surface. Within a week these pinheads will gradually grow in size. When pinheads attain pea size water is applied heavily.

CULTIVATION PROCESSCROPPINGWhen Mushroom attains 30-40mm diameter it becomes ready for harvesting. Mushrooms are hand picked and packed in polybags for fresh sales. Mushroom crops come in cycle called as breaks or flushes. Each break consists of seven days. Generally two or three flushes are harvested.Air temperature 18 to 19 degree Celsius, CO2- 1000 PPM to 1200 PPM, RH - 80 to 85 %Compost temperature- 20 to 22 degree Celsius. COOK - OUTAfter completion of crop room is chemically treated with formaldehyde and potassium permanganate and emptied out and kept ready for next cycle

MARKET POTENTIALButton mushroom market is divided in Domestic market Export market India is producing hardly 0.5% of the world mushroom productionThe consumption of Mushrooms has increased dramatically in India only in recent years. This has happened only due to awareness about high nutrition, Protein, low calorie aspects of Mushrooms in addition to this its versatility in cooking. With the recent entry of large pizza fast food restaurant chains into India (Pizza Hut, Dominos Pizzas, Smoking Joes, etc).

COST OF PRODUCTIONAverage cost of production of fresh button mushroom in India is Rs. 60/Kg Cost of Production includesRaw material costPower & fuel costManpower costTerm loan repayment & interest on working capital costDepreciation costAverage selling price of mushroom is Rs. 110/Kg

RAW MATERIALS

SR.NO.NAMEAVAILABILITY1PADDY STRAWTHREE SEASON2WHEAT STRAWMAR TO JUNE3SOYA STRAWOCT TO DEC4BAGASSENOV TO JUNE5SUGARCANE LEAVESNOV TO APRIL6GRASSOCT TO DEC7HORSE MANURETHREE SEASON8CHICKEN MANURETHREE SEASON9GYPSUMTHREE SEASON10SPAWNTHREE SEASON

POTENTIAL IN INDIA

Wheat Cultivation in India

Sugarcane Cultivation in India

MUSHROOM PLANTS IN INDIA

SR. NO.NAME OF ORGANISATIONCAPACITYMT PER DAYLOCATION1HIMALAYA AGRO30 MT/DAHMDABAD2FLEX FOOD08 MT/ DDEHRADUN3TIRUPATI BALAJI10 MT/ DBARAMATI 4WEIKFIELD AGRO10 MT/DPUNE5PREMIER MUSHROOM10 MT/DHYDERABAD6SUGAM AGRO08 MT/DKAKINADA7OTHER SMALL FARMS100 MT/DALL OVER INDIA

POTENTIAL IN MAHARASTRA

Bio- Organic FertilizerEven after harvesting Of Mushrooms Compost is rich in Plant Nutrients and sold in market as Bio-Organic Fertilizer by doing some Value additionAll over the world demand for Organically grown food products are in demandThere is good Domestic as well as Export market for Bio-organic Fertilizer

HIND AGRO FOODS PVT.LTDMISSIONProducing nutritious food at a profit, while using materials that would otherwise be considered waste, constitutes a valuable service in the self-sustaining community we might envision for the future.