Bhadrak: A farmer of Basudevpur in Bhadrak district has set an example for lakhs of unemployed youths by taking up mushroom cultivation and proving that success could be achieved in any field of activity.
Bhupati Bhusan Mallick of Sureswar village has been successfully growing mushrooms for the last 16 years. And, his earnings have witnessed a mushrooming growth. Currently, he earns a minimum Rs 20,000 every month. More importantly, he has trained over 100 people of Bhadrak and Balasore in mushroom farming and shown them a secured way of earning livelihood.
Bhupati recalled the days when he had no job after graduating from Atal Bihari Mahavidyalaya. He was looking for work to earn something. Then he stumbled upon mushroom cultivation. Focused, he followed news and programmes on mushroom farming on TV and radio.
Then, he contacted Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Ranital and got a good knowledge of mushroom farming. Finally, he took up mushroom cultivation in 2012 with the help of his wife and two sons.
“I get up at 4 am everyday and collect 30 to 35 kg of mushroom. The mushroom is sent by buses to traders in Basudevpur, Dhamra, Balasore and Bhadrak,” Bhupati said.
A kg of mushroom is sold for Rs 130 to Rs 140 while Rs 50 to 60 is spent towards wages and other costs, he said, adding initially, he used to get Rs 250 per day, but the monthly earning has now gone up to Rs 20,000.
Though mushroom farming is labour intensive, Bhupati is happy to earn enough to run his family and encourage others to take it up without waiting for jobs. He is also ready to train others free of charge if they are keen on taking up mushroom farming.
PNN