Fresh Organic Mushrooms

Mushrooms arelow in fat but the fat is rich in linoelic acid (PUFA). Cholesterol, the dreaded sterol, is absentwhich make the choice of the dieticians for heart patients. Due to nil starch and low sugars,these are the delight of the diabetic patients. Mushrooms are highly suited to those suffering from hypertension, hyperacidityandconstipation.These are especially rich in vitamin B complex and vitamin B12 also. Besides, mushrooms have many medicinal properties like anti-cancer, hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidimic effects. Justifiably mushrooms are called the “ultimate health food,then eutaceuticals. Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced abovegroundonsoiloronitsfoodsource.They contain numerous spores,functionally similar to seeds of the higher plants for propagation of fungi. Since the mid-seventies, mushroom is emerging as an important commercial crop in India forboth domestic and foreign markets. The industry is gaining prominence on account of threemain factors: ensuring higher/alternative incomes to rural people, creating more employmentand earning foreign exchange. Mushroom cultivation has added advantage of efficient use of agricultural wastes as growing medium. The economic importance of mushroom lies primarily in their use as food for human consumption. The exotic flavour, taste and fleshiness of mushroom have made it an important delicacy in humandiet. Mushroom is considered to be a complete, healthy food and suitable for all age groups. Though,the nutritional value is determined by the type, stage of development and other environmental conditions, mushrooms are rich in proteins, dietary fibre, vitamins andminerals. They have in significant lipid level and high proportion of polyun saturated fatty acids resulting in low calorific value. The protein content, though variesgreatly in different mushrooms, is usually high. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitaminse specially C and B (Folic acid, Riboflavin, Niacin and Thiamine) and minerals like potassium, sodium and phosphorus.It also contain so there ssential minerals like Cu,Zn and Mg intraces. They are also used in commercially available products, like instant mashed potatoes, croquettes, pasta and fabricated snacks. As a thickener, they enhance creamy frozen desserts, gravies and chocolate milk. Like other dehydrated potato products, they extend the shelf life of baked goods. Mushrooms are also known to have medicinal values as these have been shown to promoteimmune function, boost health, lower risk of cancer in hibiting tumour growth and support body’s detoxification mechanism. Fresh mushrooms have very limited life hence processing is recommended to enhance the shelf life. Mushroom, thus has great potential for the production as quality food.

Initially, mushroom cultivation was restricted to button variety, however situation has changed considerably in the last decade as wide range of mushrooms like Oyster, Milky, Shiitake andother specialty mushrooms like Reishi are also finding favour with the growers. The economic reforms introduced since 1991 and the vastly liberalized foreign trade policy since then, have given a great fillip to this activity. Consequent upon liberalization, the Government of India identified mushroom as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100 percent export-oriented status. Growing domestic and global demand coupled with relatively much higher returns per unit ofland than other agricultural activities has prompted farmers and entrepreneurs to take up this activity. The rapid urbanization, increasing purchasing power and changing dietary habits have also helped in higher demand for mushroom. Considering the potential market opportunity of such units, the present detail project report has been developed. The main objective of such initiative is to productively utilize the abundantly available resources of the local area and to enable un interrupted supply of the products to market through out the year.

A detailed analysis has been carried out considering mainly the aspects mentioned below which has been discussed in the financial aspects:

• Requirements of miscellaneous assets for the project.
• Estimation of installed capacity and operationpattern.
• Consumables, power & utilities and man power requirements etc.
• Estimation of the cost of the project and working capital requirements.
• Means of Finance
• Estimation of cost of operation, profitability and fund flow statements etc.
• The proposed project would procure the rawmaterials locally. After processing,the products would be supplied to the market through distributors/ wholesalers/ retailers.