For Kerala State volleyball players and former students of CMS College, Kottayam — Akhil GP, Muhammed Sahad S, and Anzil KA — discussions after games and practice often took the entrepreneurial route.
Different business endeavours they could venture into after graduation.
One of the ideas that emerged was to start a mushroom farm — as suggested by Akhil.
Five months ago, they started Home Mushrooms at Erumapetty in Thrissur.
Today, it yields 150 kilograms of mushrooms a month.
The Business at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Business name | Home Mushrooms |
| Location | Erumapetty, Thrissur, Kerala |
| Founded | 5 months ago (approx. November/December 2025) |
| Land area | 1.5 acres |
| Built-up area | 8,000 square feet |
| Monthly yield | 150 kg |
| Staff | 8 employees |
| Special feature | In-house seed production unit |
The Founders: Athletes Turned Agripreneurs
| Founder | Background | Current Pursuit |
|---|---|---|
| Akhil GP | Born into agricultural family in Neyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram; growing mushrooms on terrace for 6 years | Postgraduate degree in Sociology at CMS College |
| Muhammed Sahad S | Kerala State volleyball player | MBA student at Holy Grace Academy of Management Studies, Thrissur |
| Anzil KA | Kerala State volleyball player | Helps run the farm full-time |
Akhil had been growing mushrooms on the terrace of his house for six years before starting Home Mushrooms.
“I started with two beds.”
The Mushroom Varieties: 9 Types and Counting
| Variety | Type |
|---|---|
| Pearl Oyster | Oyster family |
| Blue Oyster | Oyster family |
| Gold Oyster | Oyster family |
| Pink Oyster | Oyster family |
| Button Mushroom | Common white mushroom |
| Milky Mushroom | Tropical variety |
| King Oyster | Large, meaty stem |
| Shiitake Mushroom | Popular in Asian cuisine |
| Lion’s Mane Mushroom | Medicinal/culinary (unique appearance) |
Harvesting Schedule
| Frequency | Details |
|---|---|
| Every 12 days | Some varieties |
| Every 15 days | Some varieties |
| Every 25 days | Some varieties |
| Daily possible | If continuously cultivated |
“If you continuously cultivate it, you can harvest daily.”
— Akhil GP
Growing Methods: Science Meets Sustainability
Growing Beds
Mushrooms are grown on different types of beds with:
- Hay
- Sawdust
- Compost made with waste from pearlspot fish (karimeen) and additional nutrients
Hygiene Protocols
| Practice | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Wear lab coats | Prevent contamination |
| Use sanitiser before entering | Keep growing environment clean |
| Monitor for fungus | Contamination can ruin entire beds |
“If there is contamination, beds can get ruined and would have to be thrown out. There is a type of fungus which can affect the yield.”
Challenges Faced and Overcome
1. Market Generation
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Mushrooms not very popular in Kerala | Reached out to drivers transporting vegetables on different routes |
| No existing distribution network | Used their help to enter retail market |
| Unknown brand | Direct supply to households near the farm |
“We reached out to drivers who transported vegetables on different routes. With their help, we managed to enter the retail market.”
Current Distribution
- More than 10 sellers across the state
- Direct household supply near the farm
2. Contamination Risk
| Preventive Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lab coats | Worn by all staff |
| Sanitiser | Used before entering farm |
| Regular monitoring | Check for unwanted fungus |
Pricing and Market Reach
| Price Range | Per Kilogram |
|---|---|
| Minimum | ₹400 |
| Maximum | ₹3,500 |
Districts Where Sold
- Thrissur
- Kollam
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Ernakulam
Water Management: Integrated Farming System
| Current Usage | Future Plan |
|---|---|
| 500 litres of water daily | Building an integrated farming system |
The Integrated Cycle
“The water we use for growing mushrooms is from a reservoir that is used for pisciculture (fish farming), and this water is later diverted back to the fish pond after its use at the farm.”
Result: Sustainable water use — same water supports both mushroom cultivation and fish farming.
Future Plans: Value-Added Products
Home Mushrooms is planning to introduce a range of mushroom-based products:
| Short-Term Products | Long-Term Vision (Future Stage) |
|---|---|
| Soaps | Mushroom cooking oil |
| Turmeric powder | Puttu powder |
| Pickle | Mushroom halwa |
| Pappadam | Toothpaste |
| Soup powder | — |
| Chamanthi powder | — |
“And at a later stage, we want to bring out mushroom cooking oil, puttu powder, mushroom halwa, toothpaste and so on.”
