From Homegrown Herbal Farming to a Profitable Medicinal Mushroom Business
Introduction
In today’s modern world, farming is no longer confined to vast fields or farmlands. With the right knowledge and technology, farming medicinal herbs and mushrooms at home can open doors to lucrative income streams. One such inspiring story is that of Suman Sukhija from Delhi, who has turned her home into a thriving business by cultivating Cordyceps mushrooms — popularly known in Hindi as ‘Kida Jadi’ (literally “insect herb”). This mushroom is famous for its medicinal properties and commands a high market demand. Here is how Suman transformed her idle time and space into an enterprise earning millions every year.
How It All Started
Suman, a resident of Delhi, used to spend most of her time at home with idle hours. Wanting to use her time productively and do something unique, she explored growing medicinal herbs rather than common vegetables. In 2018, she enrolled for professional training in mushroom cultivation at HAIC (Haryana Agricultural and Industrial Corporation) Mushroom and Agricultural Development Center, Murthal, Haryana.
During her training on button mushrooms, she also learned about Cordyceps militaris — a medicinal fungus found naturally in the Himalayan region but increasingly cultivated under controlled laboratory conditions. This fungus is known for its potent health benefits and has a growing demand in herbal and pharmaceutical markets.
Setting Up a Lab at Home and Initial Investment
After completing her training, Suman converted a 200 sq ft room in her house into a small cultivation lab. The setup cost approximately ₹4 lakh, including infrastructure and equipment. She imported the Cordyceps culture (the mushroom “seed”) from Thailand — the culture comes in small 3-inch petri dishes, which form the base for growing mushrooms.
The initial investment was significant but carefully planned. Suman now sells the Cordyceps culture at ₹93,000 per kilogram and earns around ₹30 lakh annually from this business alone.
Cultivation Process and Workload
Growing Cordyceps mushrooms does not require excessive labor or constant attention. Suman explains that maintaining optimal temperature and humidity is essential, but once set up, the process is fairly manageable. To start cultivation, a minimum of 100 sq ft space is needed.
One of the biggest advantages of Cordyceps mushrooms is their long shelf life, which means sellers don’t have to rush to sell them fresh immediately — making the business more flexible.
Medicinal Benefits and Market Demand
Cordyceps mushrooms are rich in antioxidants and known to help with:
Autoimmune diseases
Respiratory issues
Diabetes control
Lowering cholesterol
Kidney health maintenance
Due to these health benefits, Cordyceps is in high demand among pharmaceutical companies, Ayurvedic product manufacturers, and health food markets, making it a highly profitable crop.
Training Others and Expanding the Business
Suman did not stop at just growing mushrooms herself. She started training 20-30 people every month on how to cultivate Cordyceps mushrooms successfully. She charges ₹15,000 per person for these training sessions and also assists interested farmers in setting up their own labs and sourcing quality cultures.
Through this, she has empowered many budding entrepreneurs, especially women, to start their own medicinal mushroom farming business.
Lessons and Inspiration
Suman’s story clearly demonstrates that with the right knowledge, effort, and vision, even home-based farming can turn into a million-rupee business. Her journey inspires those looking to diversify farming or start agribusiness without large landholdings.
This success also highlights the growing potential of medicinal plants and mushrooms, an emerging sector with increasing global demand.
How You Can Start Your Own Cordyceps Farming Business
Get professional training from a recognized institute or agricultural center.
Ensure you have at least 100 sq ft of clean, controlled space for setting up a cultivation lab.
Be prepared for an initial investment of around ₹3-4 lakh for infrastructure and culture procurement.
Source quality Cordyceps culture from reliable suppliers.
Keep yourself updated on best cultivation practices and market trends.
Conclusion
From a small home lab to earning over ₹30 lakh annually, Suman Sukhija’s journey is a testament to how determination and innovation can unlock new opportunities in agriculture. If you are interested in medicinal herb farming, Cordyceps cultivation offers a promising path to success.
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