Abul Kashem is the first mushroom farmer in Mirsharai upazila of Chattogram. He became self-reliant growing mushrooms after watching videos. Anyone in the area newly inspired to grow mushrooms takes his advice and help, and he also gives basic hands-on training. Abul Kashem, who is over sixty, lives in Purba Hinguli village of Hinguli union in Mirsharai.

He returned home after three decades abroad and could not find a way to make a living. He spent nine years trying to stand on his own feet, sometimes with a nursery, sometimes with a shop, but those efforts failed. Sinking into frustration, he came across videos on mushroom farming and in 2022 turned to it.

This time he wanted to succeed and to start properly with training. He took a one-day course on mushroom cultivation run by Rifa Mushroom Project, and then a 10-day training on 'Importance of Mushroom and Cultivation Technique' under the Ministry of Agriculture. After that he never looked back. Abul Kashem started growing mushrooms with capital of just Tk 10,000.

With full support from the Mirsharai upazila office of the Department of Agricultural Extension, he now has a 44 ft by 24 ft mushroom project, grown into assets worth about Tk 6 lakh. The project has 1,000 spawn packets and produces 5-7 kg of mushrooms a day, which he sells at Tk 300 a kg. Demand is strong, but he cannot supply it all because output is low. After all costs he earns Tk 10,000-15,000 a month and about Tk 1 to 1.5 lakh a year. Profits were small at first, but they have kept growing, and Abul Kashem is happy.

Abul Kashem said: "I was in Dubai for 30 years. Back home, while wondering what to do, I watched mushroom-farming videos on YouTube and was inspired. On my own initiative and with help from the Mirsharai upazila Department of Agricultural Extension I took training on mushroom farming. After the training it became very easy. I now earn Tk 15,000-20,000 a month, and this will soon reach half a lakh. I'm working towards that goal. When someone new is inspired, I help them with hands-on training."

Calling mushroom farming very promising, Mirsharai upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "The upazila Department of Agricultural Extension is giving various kinds of support on behalf of the government. Under a project we gave entrepreneur Abul Kashem a mushroom production house, a cultivation house, accessories and a van. Step by step he has established himself as a successful entrepreneur."

He said: "Mushrooms are a nutritious food and work as a remedy for various illnesses. There is no alternative to mushroom farming for making a good profit with little capital. If any entrepreneur wants to make a living growing mushrooms, the upazila Department of Agricultural Extension will give all the help needed, including training."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.