Arun Sharma, hailing from the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, decided to pursue mushroom cultivation instead of taking a conventional job after completing his MBA. Today, he earns an impressive Rs 90 lakh annually.
A growing number of young people are turning away from traditional jobs to pursue innovative business ventures. Arun Sharma, from Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir, embodies this trend. After completing his MBA, he chose mushroom cultivation over a conventional career path. Today, he earns an impressive Rs 90 lakh annually from his farming business. Let’s explore how Arun made mushroom cultivation his successful career.
Background
Arun Sharma was born in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, where he completed his early education. He later pursued an MBA but chose not to enter the corporate world. Instead, he wanted to make a difference in his hometown. Arun joined an NGO focused on empowering women to achieve financial independence. During this time, he attended a training programme on button mushroom cultivation organized for women under a government initiative. It was here that he discovered his passion for mushroom farming.
The beginnings
Arun began his mushroom cultivation journey in a small room in his house. With limited capital and space, he made the most of what he had. Initially, he purchased just 100 mushroom bags for a total of Rs 9,000, treating it as a trial run to assess the potential profitability of the venture.
Expanding the business
After two months, Arun's first crop was ready. He sold the mushrooms in the local market and earned his initial income of Rs 16,000. This early success motivated him to expand his business. Gradually, he increased the number of mushroom bags and improved his production through hard work. For three years, he managed the business part-time. In 2014, noticing a rising demand for mushrooms and the potential for greater profit, he decided to pursue mushroom cultivation full-time.
In 2015, Arun aimed to further expand his business. He secured a loan of Rs 7 lakh from the bank and added Rs 3 lakh of his own savings to create a professional setup for mushroom production. He constructed a 1,000-square-foot mushroom production unit near his home and installed two 1.5-ton air conditioners, ensuring optimal conditions for cultivation regardless of the weather.
Achieving success
As his business continued to grow, Arun began producing mushroom manure in 2019. He established a manure production unit covering 5,000 square feet, yielding 50,000 bags each year. This manure is sold at Rs 90 per kg, generating an annual income of approximately Rs 45 lakh. Today, Arun produces 35 tonnes of mushrooms annually and sells 50,000 bags of mushroom manure. His total annual turnover from both mushrooms and manure amounts to Rs 90 lakh.
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