Any business is a form of earnings, which almost all of us strive for. Currently, everyone wants to be financially independent and earn a living by the activity that is of the greatest interest. Indeed, otherwise the work will seem hard labor. In this connection, such a business as a mushroom farm can become a good income.
In favor of this, we can cite statistics, according to which a third of the entire population living in Russia prefers to feast on mushrooms. At the same time, some go on their own searches, but most of them go to markets or shops where they have already gathered mushrooms and can only pick them up, however, for a certain amount to save time. Moreover, the consumption of these products is increasing every year by 20-25%.
Reason for widespread demand
The increasing demand for mushrooms is due to several reasons. First of all, it is worth noting their low cost, compared with marine or meat products. As for the benefits, they are in no way inferior to the mentioned products in the content of nutrients useful to the human body.
Due to the high content of protein and minerals (potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium and other substances) in the products, you can understand how relevant such a business as a home mushroom farm is. Oyster mushroom, champignon, shiitake - all these mushrooms are just a real warehouse for our body.
What is characteristic, dried mushrooms are absorbed by people in a better way than fresh. And due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids on the walls of blood vessels, salt deposition does not occur.
Advantages and disadvantages of doing business
What are the positive aspects of mushroom business? First of all, this is a small amount of down payments, which is not the case with every business. Other significant advantages are:
- not seasonal in nature;
- high percentage of profitability;
- constantly increasing demand in the Russian market;
- the crop can be harvested every week;
- one substrate can be used up to three times.
In addition, if you make a mushroom farm, you do not have to spend a lot on renting a room.
Unfortunately, such activities also have their drawbacks. One of these is the complex implementation of products for wholesale buyers. It is also not easy to maintain the necessary conditions for the proper development of mushrooms.
What is to be implemented?
Often, those who are faced with the need to open their own business, ask themselves what can be sold or what kind of services to provide. Considering in this case an example of a mushroom farm, several market segments can be distinguished in which products can be delivered in the following form:
Sometimes the market can be supplemented with dried mushrooms. As noted by the General Director of the establishment of the School of Mushroom Production, A. V. Khrenov, the Russian market is filled with approximately 22% of fresh produce; 28% are canned mushrooms. The remaining 50% are frozen foods.
In favor of a business like a mushroom farm, it’s worth bringing some interesting data from a large supplier. Back in 2004, the domestic market was filled with frozen mushrooms for 15 thousand tons, and the total amount of useful product was 30 thousand tons. Although market experts call other figures - 60 thousand tons. And the most developed segment is represented by frozen mushrooms, the demand for which is increasing by 30% from year to year.
Moreover, the total consumption of mushrooms for the whole of 2003 amounted to nearly 500 thousand tons, which is equivalent to each person consuming at least 3 kg of this product. For comparison, in the US per capita accounted for no more than 2.5 kg of mushrooms. Thus, this provides a basis for reflection on what exactly can be marketed.
Where to begin?
Any entrepreneurial activity, including a home mushroom farm, is not complete without a competent business plan. Thanks to him, you can decide on the important stages through which you should go. A plan for the cultivation and further sale of mushrooms may include several important steps during which it is necessary:
- purchase seed;
- prepare the substrate (raw materials);
- grow mushrooms directly;
- sell the goods.
It is also necessary to solve the issues of equipment selection, hire personnel and take into account a number of other, no less important points. However, we will not get ahead of ourselves and try to consider this type of business from all sides.
The legal side of the issue
Before you begin to take action, it is necessary to regulate the legal side of the business. Since mushrooms are food products, some issues with the state should be settled before the mushroom farm opens. This business requires going through the registration procedure of its activities and providing data to the tax service. You can act as an individual entrepreneur, according to the OKVED code - A.01.12.31. After that, you need to choose a tax system. In this case, it will be enough to choose a single agricultural tax.
Next you need to pay a visit to several structures. First you can go to the fire department for permission. Next, you need to confirm the quality of the products, for which it is necessary to send a batch of mushrooms for analysis. If everything is in order, the laboratory issues a quality certificate with which you can start your business.
It is only necessary to complete a number of documents, one of them is a license, which gives the right to sell mushrooms. Another document is a phytosanitary certificate. Also, it does not hurt to get instructions for storage and transportation of products.
Raw material selection
An extremely important stage of the business is the selection of raw materials from which mushrooms are grown mushroom farm. For this purpose, mycelium is used, or, as it is also called, mycelium. This basic seed is usually available on almost any mushroom farm. However, if you already have experience, then you can grow it on your own.
When purchasing the so-called licensed seed, first of all, you need to make sure of its quality. A good mycelium is white, gives off a pleasant mushroom smell and there are no spots on it. It would not be superfluous to ask the seller for a license, which he must have.
The second necessary raw material is the substrate - it is on it that fungi grow. You can also make it yourself. To do this, straw (wheat, rye, barley), flax beef and corn stalks can be included in the composition. And so that the mushroom farm gives more yield, you can add such components:
- sawdust;
- shavings;
- tree bark;
- sex and other household waste.
With independent production of the substrate, the main thing is to make sure that the raw materials used are environmentally friendly. Otherwise, large crop losses can be incurred, and the quality of mushrooms due to the presence of various chemicals will leave the best.
Buying a ready-made substrate from different manufacturers, you can be sure that up to 2 kg of mushrooms can be grown from 10 kg of raw materials. Of course, subject to all the necessary conditions for their cultivation. Just take into account that such an amount of substrate is equal to the cost of 1 kg of mushrooms at a wholesale price.
Champignons and oyster mushrooms
Before starting your activity, you need to know its specifics. Mushroom farm is no exception, champignons are characterized by increased requirements for development conditions. For the substrate on which champignons will be grown, it is best to use wheat straw. Previously, it must be well dried, crushed and soaked in water. Since the straw absorbs it perfectly, you should take the following proportion: 2.5 parts of liquid per 1 part of straw. After that, in wet straw you need to add manure or chicken droppings and leave the compost to ripen. This usually takes two weeks, and special aerated containers are used to allow air access.
This compost is ideal for growing a rich crop of champignons and oyster mushrooms. But because of the laborious work of creating it, they are not used for the latter, since you can get by with a simpler option - a substrate.
Room
Finding and choosing the right room plays an important role for a business such as a mushroom farm, mushrooms require optimal conditions for development. Already experienced entrepreneurs in this matter give preference to cultivation chambers in which the necessary microclimate conditions are maintained. Moreover, even the level of carbon dioxide may vary, depending on the stage of development of the fungi.
But it is quite possible for novice businessmen to opt for a greenhouse, basement or shed. The selected room should be equipped with ventilation and heating systems. The temperature should be kept in the region of 12-16, but not more than 25 degrees. It is extremely important to ensure a high level of humidity - up to 80 or 90%. For a small room, it is not difficult to maintain, it is enough to irrigate the bags with the substrate. But if large-scale production is planned, then here you can not do without air conditioners and humidifiers.
Also, the construction of a mushroom farm implies the presence of electrical wiring in the premises and an uninterrupted supply of water. It is necessary to take care of removing its excess.
Regarding dimensions, it is worth considering the scale of production. To begin with, you can choose a room with an area of 15 to 20 square meters. m. However, if in the future it is planned to expand production, then the room must be chosen in advance more spacious. It can be purchased or rented. It all depends on the size of the initial investment. If there is enough money, it is better to immediately buy a room, otherwise the rent remains.
In addition to the main working area, premises should be provided for storage and pasteurization of the substrate. To this end, it is better to make separate rooms for convenience.
Equipment
The issue of arranging the premises directly depends on what culture the mushroom farm will grow. Oyster mushrooms in this regard are unpretentious mushrooms, and champignons need certain conditions. With regard to technical equipment, the following equipment must be included in the list:
- refrigerator compartment;
- humidifiers;
- heaters;
- steam generators.
When growing oyster mushrooms, bags will also be needed where they will grow. To collect mushrooms, you can use wooden or plastic boxes. Acquired raw materials, especially straw, must undergo heat treatment. For this purpose, steam generators are purchased in which the pasteurization procedure takes place. If there is little natural light in the room, then it is worth taking care of the purchase of fluorescent lamps.
Hiring
It is worth noting that mushroom farms in Russia require the presence of personnel, since one entrepreneur cannot cope with such a business, no matter how hard he tries. And therefore, for the prosperity of the business and to avoid losses, it is necessary to think about hiring workers.
There are no special requirements for future staff, since in our country they do not teach the basics of mushroom science. The only prerequisite for hiring employees is that they have a health record. As in any other job, the candidates are encouraged by the absence of bad habits, honesty, honesty. If you wish, you can attract a specialist in this field, only his salary will be higher than usual. Alternatively, offer interest on the sale of mushrooms.
How many people will work on the farm depends on the volume of produce grown. If the planned volume involves the cultivation of up to 50-100 kg of mushrooms per day, then two people will do the job perfectly. If the volume is more - 200-300 kg daily, then the staff needs to be increased to 3 or 4 people.
But these people will work directly with mushrooms. Therefore, it is recommended to hire two workers or one person to procure the substrate. Another will deal with sales. If the entrepreneur does not understand anything in financial matters, then an accountant should be hired.
Sales of goods
When developing a business plan, it is important to include a mushroom outlet. Major consumers can be found among:
- supermarkets;
- markets;
- wholesale buyers;
- shops;
- restaurants and canteens.
From the point of view of optimal implementation, it is wholesale buyers who are most interested. This allows you to sell large batches of products, which has a positive effect on profit growth.
But it is worth considering that the wholesale value is lower than the market price of mushrooms. But, at the same time, the risk of damage to the goods is significantly reduced. And in order to slightly reduce the cost of transporting mushrooms, production facilities should be located in close proximity to the city.
Profitability calculation
The financial part of the plan, which includes expenses and probable income, should also be provided. Among the costs will be listed the following items:
- The rent is from 12 to 13 thousand rubles / month.
- The cost of raw materials is about 80 thousand rubles.
- Salaries to workers - 35 thousand rubles / month.
- Utility payments - from 9 to 10 thousand rubles.
- Transportation of raw materials and finished products - from 16 to 17 thousand rubles.
The planned profit, if you subtract the equipment of the mushroom farm and the listed costs, will be 300 thousand rubles. per month. If we take into account one-time contributions for opening an enterprise, then the return on business will take six months.