Market Optimisation - Mushroom Proof of Concept

Jeevika Trust began a new Mushroom Cultivation proof of concept trial with long term partners Social Change and Development (SCAD) in spring 2025. Currently we are developing a low-cost mushroom cultivation and training programme for 10 farmers in Tamil Nadu focused on maximising the productivity and quality of oyster mushroom cultivation, whilst minimising risk and overheads for smallhold farmers. Careful project monitoring of inputs and outputs is allowing us to refine production methods at this small scale. Once production methods are successfully established, our goal is to support farmers to market their mushrooms and maximise their profits, as well as scale this up to create a series of clusters of mushroom production across the region.

Mushroom cultivation provides an additional income stream for farmers with very small plot sizes, is less manual so ideal for overworked women farmers, and supports good nutrition in village communities. In addition, mushrooms typically sell for high values, are in high demand and cultivation is a productive way of recycling padi straw in these predominantly rice growing communities.