Mushrooms are a very popular product in the domestic market. They are consumed separately in fried, stewed or pickled form, and also used to prepare various dishes. At the same time, demand for them is constantly increasing, since meat is becoming more expensive every year. Due to this, people are forced to look for alternative foods with high nutritional value.
According to statistics, the level of demand significantly exceeds supply, so mushroom production in Russia is one of the very attractive destinations. Let's take a closer look at all the features of this type of business and find out how to open it from scratch.
What species are better to grow?
Let's dwell on this in more detail. The most common in our country is the production of champignon mushrooms. This group of spore organisms has excellent taste and is very easy to breed, so there is no particular trouble with it. The main advantage, which can be considered a disadvantage, is the great demand for champignons. You will not have sales problems, but it will be very difficult to work in conditions of fierce competition. In addition, to start growing you will need to purchase a special substrate and mycelium, the sale of which is carried out only by specialized companies.
Oyster mushroom or oyster mushroom is popularly second in popularity. It has an excellent taste, high nutritional value and many useful properties. In addition, unlike mushrooms, it can be grown on ordinary sawdust or straw, which greatly simplifies the entire process and reduces associated costs. However, when working with them, people may develop an allergy to spores, so it is very important to adhere to basic sanitary standards.
The production of shiitake mushrooms is also very promising. They were brought into our country from Asian countries relatively recently, but already today the demand for them is very high. This is due to the growing popularity of Chinese and Japanese cuisine in Russia. In addition to its unique taste, the mushroom is appreciated for its healing properties. The cost of the species is higher than that of champignons and oyster mushrooms, however, cultivation requires large financial and physical costs. The thing is that shiitake does not grow in the open, so for production you will need a special room, protected from the penetration of sunlight. In addition, it is impossible to find mycelium in our country. You will need to import it yourself, purchasing from foreign suppliers. But if you are ready to take on all the difficulties, then they will certainly pay off, since in Russia a small number of companies are engaged in the sale of these mushrooms.
Truffle is worth highlighting among valuable and exotic varieties. This is perhaps the most expensive species in the whole world, since it grows exclusively in forest soil at a depth of about 30 centimeters. Therefore, if you decide to produce them, then, first of all, you will need to rent a large plot of land, and then order a mycelium, the cost of which is very high. It should be borne in mind that the first crop can be harvested no earlier than in 6 years. But the production of mushroom cultivation will fully pay for itself. The cost of one kilogram of truffles starts at $ 500 (33,800 rubles), and one plantation brings an average of 15 kg.
And, of course, it is worth mentioning ceps. They are traditional for Russian cuisine and are considered one of the most beloved. Their advantage lies in the fact that cultivation can be carried out both in the countryside and in the city, or even on the balcony of the apartment. In addition, ceps are less whimsical than those described previously, so you will not need a large investment.
General information about growing
If you plan to start a mushroom business, then you need to clearly adhere to a certain sequence in the implementation of your ideas.
The general algorithm is as follows:
- Search and rental premises.
- Creating a suitable microclimate.
- Mycelium purchase.
- The manufacture or purchase of a substrate.
In addition, you will need to develop sanitary control rules, since working with mushrooms is very dangerous. If the basic norms are not observed, the probability of bacterial infection is high.
According to experienced entrepreneurs, the simplest and most cost-effective is the production of oyster mushrooms. You can start a business with minimal investment, which will quickly pay for itself, since the market keeps a steady demand for this type of spore plants, regardless of seasonal factors. Therefore, further we will focus on the cultivation of oyster mushrooms.
Cultivation methods
The technology for the production of oyster mushrooms is very simple. It can be implemented in only two ways:
The second method is as close as possible to natural environmental conditions. Mushrooms are cultivated on tree trunks. However, this technology has certain disadvantages. The main ones are:
- Long incubation period.
- Every year, the yield falls.
- It is difficult to maintain optimal growing conditions.
Extensive technology aims to create environmentally friendly products. The production of mushrooms on it allows you to achieve excellent productivity, which maintains indicators from year to year. This is achieved thanks to controlled climatic conditions.
The first step is to prepare a suitable substrate. For this, crushed hay or sawdust is taken, steamed, after which mineral fertilizers and mycelium are added to them. The vegetative body of mushrooms is taken at the rate of 4 kg per ton of substrate. The resulting mass is rammed into bags in which small holes are made to remove excess moisture.
Packages with the contents are placed in a room protected from sunlight, in which the air temperature is constantly maintained at 24 degrees Celsius and humidity - 65 percent. About a month later, mushrooms will rise. Industrial production of oyster mushrooms is no different from home production, and the only difference is the volume of products grown.
After the formation of mycelium, the bags move into a room with an air humidity of about 85 percent and an ambient temperature of 13 to 16 degrees. Such conditions are considered ideal for the formation of fungal embryos, from which clusters weighing from 0.4 to 4 kilograms will subsequently grow.
The advantage of this variety of mushrooms is that after harvesting, after only a week and a half, a new one will grow. Thus, continuous production of mushrooms is obtained. The business will flourish and you can gradually scale it, while increasing productivity. In one season, it is possible to collect mushrooms at least three times. A new substrate is already being prepared next year, as the old one becomes unusable. According to experienced farmers, one bag on average brings up to four kilograms of oyster mushroom.
Procedure
Regardless of whether you will produce champignon mushrooms or oyster mushrooms, the algorithm of work is identical. First of all, you will need to draw up a detailed business plan. It will allow you to really assess the necessary financial costs and potential profits that you can get from your investment.
The project is implemented according to the following scheme:
- company registration;
- rental of suitable premises;
- material and technical equipment;
- recruitment of employees;
- search for distribution channels;
- calculation of financial indicators.
If you stick to this algorithm, you can not only organize a home business, but also open a mushroom plant. The main thing is to determine the type of activity and the tax system. So that you better understand what to do, each of the stages will be considered in more detail below.
Company registration
If you decide to organize the production of mushrooms, then the first thing you should do is draw up all the necessary documents for this, provided for by law. If you will conduct business on your own, without hiring employees, you can register with the tax office as an individual entrepreneur. If you start to grow products in large volumes and qualified specialists will work for you, then in this case it is better to open an LLC immediately. As for taxation, there is only one option - the same for agricultural enterprises. Its size is 6 percent of annual net profit.
To legalization went much faster, prepare the following documents in advance:
- Radiology protocol.
- Certificate of conformity.
- Phytosanitary certificate.
All of the above certificates are obtained after the first crop is harvested. In order to avoid a lot of problems during the design process, adhere to the basic sanitary standards during the work process. As practice shows, Russian-made mushrooms are in no way inferior in their taste characteristics and environmental safety of Western products, so you should succeed.
Search for premises
Mushroom spores contain a large number of allergens, so the industrial building should be located away from residential areas. However, to reduce logistics costs, there should be a good access to it, which will ensure the normal delivery of raw materials and the delivery of finished products to customers. Nowadays, a lot of agricultural land is empty, so there should not be any special problems with finding a suitable room. And if you live in the countryside, then you can grow mushrooms in the barn.
It is best that the premises meet the following criteria:
- minimum area - 15 square meters. m .;
- good ventilation;
- air humidity - 80%;
- ambient temperature - from 10 to 20 degrees;
- the availability of communications.
In addition, the building should have separate premises for growing and storing products, as well as for working with the substrate.
Raw materials and equipment
At the first stages of work, there is no particular sense in the purchase of expensive imported equipment. You can purchase either used or domestic appliances. For example, mushroom dryers of Russian production are not inferior to their Western counterparts in their technical characteristics, but at the same time they are much more expensive. Savings are very important, because for the production of a large volume of products, significant amounts will be required for the purchase of raw materials.
To work properly, you need the following equipment for the production of mushrooms:
- steam generator - 40 000 r;
- pasteurizer - 10 000 r;
- humidifier - 8 000 r;
- heating appliances - 5 000 r;
- ventilation system - 7 000 r.
In addition, you will need hooks or special brackets for hanging bags with mycelium. As for the necessary raw materials, its list includes the following:
- substrate;
- mycelium;
- fertilizers.
Estimated cost of starting a business should not exceed 100,000 rubles. If you do not want to deal with oyster mushrooms, and you prefer other types of spore plants, then the amount of initial investment will be approximately the same. Equipment for the production of champignon mushrooms costs the same.
Hired staff
When growing mushrooms at home, you can work independently, but when planning a large-scale project, you can’t do without outside help. It is simply impossible to process tons of substrate yourself, so you will have to attract hired labor. How much exactly a person will need depends on the material and technical equipment of the farm.
If you cannot purchase all the necessary equipment, then the staff should include the following specialists:
- technologist;
- implementer;
- 3 handymen.
This staff is quite enough to produce 200 kilograms of mushrooms per month.
Search for distribution channels
You don’t have to spend extra money on delivery, since most often customers pick up products on their own. The main difficulty lies in accurately predicting the required volume of the crop, so as not to let down customers and not to stay in the red. Among potential buyers there are shops and supermarkets, catering establishments, processing plants and small points of sale in urban markets. To achieve maximum profitability, the establishment of sales channels is best carried out at the stage of finding the premises. If you manage to form a permanent customer base, then you can reach the breakeven level in just a few months. To increase competitiveness, it is advisable to come up with a memorable company name and a recognizable corporate logo.
Initial Investment and Payback Period
According to experienced entrepreneurs who have long been growing mushrooms, about 500,000 rubles will be enough to start. However, you will need a certain airbag, since the monthly costs for maintaining the normal functioning of the enterprise range from 100 to 150 thousand. As for net profit, it depends on the volume of production. On average, in a month you will collect from 150 to 190 kilograms of mushrooms, the implementation of which will bring you about 150,000 rubles. Thus, the invested funds will fully pay for themselves in 7-10 months.
Entrepreneurs reviews
According to experienced businessmen, mushroom cultivation is a very promising niche in the market, despite high competition. Demand for them is constantly growing, and consequently, profit is also increasing. The main factor is a strong rise in the price of meat products. According to economists, a similar trend will continue in the future, so you can safely start home production or run a small plant for the production of mushrooms. The main thing is to draw up a good business plan and strictly adhere to the intended course, and you will certainly succeed.