"You have a well-paying stable career and your kids are doing well. Why do you want an extra headache?" This was one of the first things that Sonia Dahiya's family and friends told her when she decided to start mushroom farming along with her husband.
But the skepticism did not rattle her. She was sure that she wanted to do something of her own and a farming venture seemed like the best option. Fast forward to 2024, Sonia's decision has paid off.
Located in Sonipat, Haryana, the Doctor Dahiya Farm produces a monthly output of 9 to 10 tonnes of mushrooms, generates stable employment for close to twenty women in the nearby villages, and clocks a monthly revenue of Rs 9 lakhs. After deducting running costs like electricity, salaries, production expenses, marketing, and transportation, the net profit every month varies from Rs 80,000 to Rs 2 lakhs. "The profit really depends on the kind of expenses we had to incur during the month." Sonia Dahiya tells Startup Pedia. In the next two years, the farming entrepreneurs envision a growth in their profit figures.
Sonia and Vijay also plan on increasingly focusing their energies on the field of training and consultancy. They want to set up a robust process where they can fulfill inquiries coming in from farms, schools, and colleges across India. Additionally, the farming entrepreneurs will scale Doctor Dahiya Mushroom Farm to start producing varieties of mushrooms other than the button mushrooms that they currently grow.
Read more at Startuppedia