How To Start An Oyster Mushroom Farming Business And The Business Plan

Get the oyster mushroom farming business plan designed for Zimbabwe and learn how to benefit from the product`s growing market. The oyster mushroom farming business is popular for its adaptability to backyard production systems. Make use of unused backyard space, convert it into a mushroom production house, and earn handsome profits. The oyster mushroom farming business ensures an all-year-round supply of organic food. As more farmers are venturing into the business, pretty soon we would no longer have to wait for yet another rainy season to enjoy this organic delicacy.

Inputs must be secured in time for a successful mushroom production cycle. The most critical factors in mushroom production are proper agriculture waste (which can either be wheat straw, cottonseed husk, or maize cobs) and the right humidity-temperature balance. The planted mushroom grows to maturity in 30 days and is harvested in 90 days. All in all, this article shares oyster mushroom farming business tips that should inform you on how you can successfully start a mushroom business. For a comprehensive analysis of the maize farming industry, consider getting the mushroom farming business plan for just US$10 payable via EcoCash.

Defining The Oyster Mushroom Plant

Mushrooms are edible fungi that grow on decaying organic matter. In Zimbabwe, the most common varieties grown are the White Button mushroom (Agaricus Bisporus) and the Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The substrate is the organic organic matter in which the mushroom grows. It is also referred to as agriculture waste. This waste can either be wheat straw, cottonseed husks, or maize cobs. It is this material which creates an organic environment conducive for the mushroom seed to grow.

Mushroom seed is the spawn. When planted it starts off very small. The spawn grows on the substrate (organic matter) to produce a fine white fibrous structure called the mycelium. This mycelium is the one that produces the mushroom fruit in a burst-like appearance known as flushes.

While a mushroom reaches maturity in 30 days, the overall growing cycle takes about 12 weeks. In the growing cycle, the mushroom flushes occur roughly every 10 days where the first 3 flushes produce 80% of the mushroom yields. 100 kgs of substrate produces 60 kgs of oyster mushroom strain Yields can hover around 90-100kg although they tend to diminish over time as the plant matures.

Mushroom production requires that you have free space to construct a growing house. You also need to find reputable suppliers of mushroom strains and the varieties they have in stock in good time. Mushroom is a short-season crop that requires fairly cool temperatures. Be that as it may, you need to ascertain your production timelines and make available the necessary resources. Ensure that you have functional equipment to use in regulating the growing house’s humidity and temperature. Most importantly, conduct prior market research and establish your target market, its preferences, and purchasing power. All in all, adherence to these steps will sum up your feasibility study which will guide your every step as you set up the mushroom business.

Oyster Mushroom Production House

The mushroom grows well in enclosed environments where environmental temperatures are easy to control. As you set up your growing house, you should be aware of the fact that different mushroom varieties require different growing conditions. Hence, be fully informed of the mushroom variety you want to grow. Also, your scale of production will determine the type of growing house to set up to allow for uniform environmental conditions. The growing house can simply be an unused building, a grass-thatched and mud-walled construction, or a large plastic container with ventilation outlets. For small-scale production, a 3m X 3m space is enough for a production target of 150kg produced per year per square meter.

Equipment Needed In Oyster Mushroom Farming Business

Generally, the total of equipment you will need in the oyster mushroom farming business will depend largely on the scale of your production. The most basic equipment needed includes a large metal drum, mushroom growing bags, tables or poles to place/hang the growing bags, firewood, garden forks to turn the substrate, disinfectant, and screens to keep flies off the mushroom growing house. You will also need equipment to help in regulating the growing house temperature, humidity, and air circulation. The availability of such equipment will improve the efficiency of your mushroom production business.

Production Inputs

The most critical inputs in mushroom production are the mushroom spawn and substrate. Mushroom spawn is purchased from specialist producers and should be handled with care to maintain its overall quality. You will also need to secure adequate agricultural waste which could either be wheat straw, bush grass, and/or horse manure. Varieties like the button mushroom require chicken manure or ammonium nitrate to improve the organic quality of the substrate.  Hence, be sure of the mushroom variety you want to grow (button or oyster) as this will determine the overall inputs required.

Upon securing the inputs, the mushroom planting process begins by preparing the substrate. The substrate has to be pasteurized by boiling it at temperatures around 80°C for an hour. This kills any competing bacteria that could infect the mushroom spawn. Once this is done, the substrate is mixed with the mushroom spawn, in a process called inoculation. The spawn should be at most 15% of the substrate while allowing for adequate ventilation. An evenly spread base layer of substrate is followed by an evenly distributed layer of spawn. One handful of spawn per layer of substrate is enough for a growing bag with a 30cm diameter. So, you alternate the layers until the growing bag is full. Cover the final layer of spawn with the substrate.

Oyster Mushroom Farming Business Labour Requirements

You will need to hire part-time labor to assist you in setting up the growing house, transporting the preferred substrate as well as pasteurizing and inoculating it. Labor is also needed in laying the filled mushroom bags inside the growing house. You will need a supervisor, finance, administration, and logistics team who will oversee the development of the agribusiness. The team ensures that the growing environment is well-regulated such that the crop grows with minimal disturbances.

The Oyster Mushroom Market

Demand for mushrooms is growing and the same is true about the profits you stand to rip from the business. By comparison to other crops, the mushroom fruit is a perishable and fragile product that needs utmost care in harvesting, transportation, and storage. You have to ensure that the fruit reaches the market while it is in the best condition. Depending on your scale of production and output, the target market can include restaurants, supermarkets, wholesalers, middlemen, and the vegetable open market. The price of mushrooms ranges between $5-$10/kg and this varies depending on the variety, size, and overall quality. However, the overall profits you stand to accrue from this venture are dependent on your production cost structure. It is therefore important that you keep your startup costs as low as possible. Do not take shortcuts.

The Mushroom Farming Business Plan

Our mushroom business plan is tailor-made for individuals seeking detailed and most recent information about mushroom farming in Zimbabwe. You can purchase the mushroom farming business plan for just US$10 payable via Ecocash. You can either get it as a pre-written document or request a customized version of the business plan at an extra charge. The customized business plan requires that you furnish us with your specific details and area of interest. All in all, our mushroom business plan is bankable and contains information on how to successfully manage your production cycles, and prepare for future possible risks associated with the business.

With our business plan, you will ultimately find it easy to plan and budget for your mushroom farming business. It will help you better navigate the mushroom value chain so you may be able to strategically position your farming business for improved profitability. As the old saying goes, failing to plan equates to planning to fail. With our mushroom production business plan, you will be fully informed of what is needed to successfully operate a mushroom agribusiness.

The Business Plan Contents

Our business plan contains the following subsections as listed below and more:

• Operational Requirements
• Planning For Sustainable Farming
• Target Market Analysis
• Marketing Strategy
• Advertising & Promotion Plans
• Competition Analysis
• SWOT analysis
• PSTEL Analysis
• Risk Analysis
• Financial Statements

Purchasing The Mushroom Farming Business Plan

You can get a soft copy package of the mushroom farming business plan for just US$10 payable via Ecocash.

1. Mushroom Farming Business Plan Comprehensive Version – PDF

2. Mushroom Farming Business Plan Comprehensive Version – WORD

3. Mushroom Farming Business Plan Short Bank/Grant Application Version – WORD

4. Mushroom Farming Business Plan Financial Statements – EXCEL

5. ZIMRA Registration Guide – (PDF)

You will receive the business plan package via email and/or WhatsApp. To make the purchase, contact us first via Call/WhatsApp: +263782594434. WhatsApp Link: https://wa.me/message/YNZABXT73VBWF1 [Mobile users Only]