This couple is involved in the production of oyster mushrooms. Razak shared his story, mentioning that at first, he worked in building and electrical contracting. After that, he spent a few years working in the Gulf before coming back to his hometown.
Beginning of Razak’s Mushroom Cultivation Journey:
16 years ago, Razak bought a home in Balepuni's Navagrama neighborhood and launched a catering company. He provided hotels with idli, neerdose, semige, and akki roti. Even machinery was bought as the firm prospered. Unfortunately, the firm was severely impacted by COVID-19-caused lockdowns and demonetization. He had to sell all the equipment because he had no work to do. When looking for anything to start, he stumbled across mushroom farming on YouTube.
Razak received his instruction in Mudigere. With one kilogram of mushroom spawns, he began the cultivation. When he saw a successful outcome, he procured Shivamogga's mushroom spawns for cultivation.
The family built a shed for processing and packing mushrooms, and they renovated one room in their home for mushroom farming. A good demand exists.
According to Razak, mushrooms are unknown to many individuals, who mistakenly believe they are poisonous. We need to raise people's awareness of mushrooms. Every day, he can gather two to three kilograms of mushrooms. Once the output will rise during the next few days, he will be concentrating on the value-added goods in it as manufacturing picks up.
As soon as the mushrooms are harvested, they are packaged and sold. For the next two days, they are stored at 20 to 30 degrees Celsius and if they need to be stored for more than six to seven days then they can be stored in a deep refrigerator.
Razak also mentioned getting engaged in mushroom cultivation and value-added products to gain more knowledge about its cultivation and packaging. As there are varieties and types of mushrooms ranging from button to milky mushrooms, Razak is keen to learn about all these types. Currently, Razak is cultivating only oyster mushrooms.
