Sikkal KVK Success Stories

Mushroom Entrepreneur

1.	Name	:	Mr. M. Ashok Kumar
2.	Contact Number	:	9943469583
3.	Address	:	Vadakku Poigainallur, Nagapattinam
4.	Age	:	27 Years
5.	Qualification	:	ITI in Diesel Mechanic
6.	Experience	:	7 Years
7.	Land	:	0.5 acre owned and 2.5 acre leased out

He is from farming community and the land (2.5 acre) was leased out 23 years before by his father. His father followed traditional method of cultivation mainly produced Vegetables and Groundnut. He marketed the produce in the local market Paravai as whole sale. He paid  Rs. 3000/- as lease amount to the owner. He earned profit to run the family smoothly without any savings. Two farm ponds are available for the irrigation purpose.

Mr. Ashok Kumar took charge the farming activity 7 years before because of his father’s death. He wants to upgrade farming activities in his land. So he discussed with his friend residing at Tiruvarur for new ideas. With the support of his friend he planted mango seedlings (40 nos.) which are in flowering stage at the time of our visit (February 2016). He is also cultivating greens, vegetables (Brinjal, Tomato and Chillies) and groundnut in 2.5 acres of land as rotational basis.

He started mushroom unit in 2014 by the advice of KVK, Sikkal. He constructed 60mX12m size shed which can have the space of 1200 beds in it. He spent nearly Rs. 35,000/- for starting this enterprise. He produced 8-10 kg of oyster mushroom per day which is marketed locally to the panipoori shop and hotels. He is selling Rs.40/250 grams of mushroom. He earned Rs. 1,72,800/- from the mushroom unit within one year. He earned what he spent as fixed cost for the production of mushroom within a year. It is the time for slight change in his enterprise because preference for oyster mushroom is coming down and customers demanding button mushroom. He gradually reduced the production of oyster mushroom and going to attend training in KVK, Sikkal and TNAU for cultivation of button mushroom. The used mushroom bed is composted with cowdung and used as manure in his own field.

Apart from this he is rearing telecherry goats (40 nos.) in the slated shed model. He is earning profit of Rs.40,000/year by selling of goats. He is also having poultry (Nattukozhi) which is meager (4 nos.) as a household activity. He earns Rs. 1000/day by selling vegetables and greens in the season time. He is producing organic greens which sold in the market Rs. 10/bundle.

He told there is a huge demand for fresh and organic greens. He also developed a seed drill for greens cultivation. He spent around Rs. 22,000/- for this innovation. At present he is using this seed drill for his own purpose.

He is a youth interested in farming and also earning profit sufficiently. His attitude has to be encouraged and other youth in his area took him as a role model and getting idea from him to improve their farm.

The KVK scientists recommended

• To attend training at TNAU, Coimbatore/TRRI, Aduthurai for cultivation of Button mushroom
• To rear fish in farm pond and to bring his farm as IFS which will give sustainable income. For this he can visit the successful IFS farmers field (Th. Gnanasekaran, Vandalur and Th. Jeevanantham, Nangudi) who are leading IFS farmers in Nagapattinam district
• Patent his innovation which will produce additional income by selling the product

He is also in the process of developing harvesting machine for greens.

The Mushroom Entrepreneur Mr. M. Ashok Kumar sharing his experience

The KVK scientists seeing the mushroom shed and documenting his experience
He developed indegenous technology of spraying water with the help of fan and water nozzle to keep the mushroom shed cool
The view of Seed drill for greens which is developed by the farmer