Success Story: This farmer of Assam did wonders by cultivating mushrooms, poultry and king chilli

Success Story: A 40-year-old farmer and businessman from the Nilakh Tarani Pather neighborhood in Dhemaji District, Assam, Raju Bhajani has made a significant impact on the agricultural industry. Having worked in agriculture for 14 years, he has focused on producing mushrooms and poultry for the last 6 years, establishing a stable income for his family. Raju is a leader in his community because of his unique agricultural methods and his commitment to his profession as a 6-bigha farm manager.

Raju, the oldest son and father of two, has inspired many young farmers in Assam and abroad with his perseverance and hard work. His accomplishment is proof of the potential of farming as a means of subsistence and a successful company, and his narrative serves as an example of the strength of tenacity and enthusiasm in conquering obstacles. Let’s examine his experiences growing mushrooms and raising chickens to see how he is leading by example in India’s farming sector.

The Success of Raju Bhajani’s Mushroom Farming

For the last six years, Raju has been growing mushrooms, mostly oyster mushrooms. He picks at least 10 kg of oysters every day from 4,000 cylinders (mushroom sacks) that he has placed in his 40 x 20-square-foot room. According to him, mushrooms now cost Rs. 200 per kilogram in his neighborhood. Although he has also obtained spawns from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Assam for demonstration reasons, Raju mostly receives his mushroom spawns from West Bengal.

He is in charge of the whole operation and has employed two women to help with packing. Raju has also begun providing his clients with a door-to-door delivery service. When questioned about his company and earnings, Raju confidently said that, after subtracting labor and spawn (mushroom seed) expenses, he generates 80% profit.

Raju explained intelligently, “If I spend Rs. 100, my expenses are Rs. 20, and I make a profit of Rs. 80 from this business.” Given his high profit margins, he also intends to grow his mushroom business in the next few years.

King Chilli, Poultry, and Diversified Farming Activities

Additionally, Raju has provided information on his chicken business, which he launched a few years ago. He has been raising Kamrupa, a dual-purpose chicken species created at Assam Agricultural University in Khanapara, Guwahati, which is a mix between a broiler strain and an indigenous chicken breed from the Northeast. At the moment, he has 300 birds on his farm, 120 of which are layers and the other ones are raised for meat.

At a wholesale price of Rs. 420 per kilogram (whole), he sells the birds to nearby butcher stores. Raju said that he may make up to Rs. 450 per kilogram if he sells them straight in the marketplace. Raju is cultivating King Chilli (Bhoot Jolokia) on half a bigha of land in addition to mushrooms and chickens. In the neighborhood market, he sells his vegetables. On his farm, he also grows a range of veggies for his own use as well as to sell in the neighborhood markets.

Overcoming Obstacles in the Farming of Poultry and Mushrooms

Raju has faced a number of difficulties in the mushroom and poultry farming industries, even though he has made a healthy profit from his endeavors. Raju said, “The oyster mushroom is the only variety suitable for cultivation due to the extreme humid climatic conditions of Assam.” Raju really likes trying all different types of mushrooms, but this restricts his options.

Raju discovered that while Kamrupa birds are great layers in chicken farming, they need an incubator to hatch their eggs since they do not naturally brood them. He bought a $300 egg incubator to solve this problem, but his poultry company faced a major setback when incubation efforts failed due to regular power outages in his neighborhood. Raju persisted in growing his company in spite of the difficulties. He decided to concentrate on raising output and efficiency in both mushroom and poultry farming rather than moping about the challenges.

Raju’s Road to Achievement: Motivating the Upcoming Farmer Generation

From raising mushrooms to raising chickens and engaging in diverse agriculture, Raju’s agricultural experience is proof of the strength of tenacity and creativity. He stays focused on efficiency and progress in spite of obstacles like power outages that hinder chicken hatching and the humid environment that restricts the types of mushrooms that may be grown. His perseverance and dedication to his trade are shown by his ability to overcome these obstacles while running a successful company.

Raju’s conviction in hard work and independence is what propels his achievement. Having embraced business from an early age, farming gives him a sense of purpose. His path has been driven by his motto of patience and endurance, and he actively encourages young people to choose agriculture as a rewarding profession.