This Bengaluru man rejected Paris job offers to grow mushrooms in an old poultry shed, he now earns Rs 4 lakh a month

A postgraduate degree from France and job offers in Paris could have led Prithviraj to a conventional corporate career. Instead, the Bengaluru resident returned to India and chose an unconventional business path. He converted his family's unused poultry shed into a mushroom farm, turning a neglected property into a growing agricultural venture. Today, his farm produces around 45 kg of mushrooms daily, with a monthly income of about Rs 4 lakh, according to a NBT report. His journey also shows how an existing space, a modest initial investment and a focus on finding buyers can help build an agricultural business.

Why Prithviraj chose mushroom farming over a Paris job

Prithviraj completed his master's degree in international business at France's SKEMA Business School. After graduation, he had several attractive job offers in Paris. However, he decided against pursuing a corporate career abroad and returned to India to start something of his own. He chose his family's poultry shed in Devanahalli, Bengaluru, for the venture. The facility had remained unused since 2019. Rather than investing heavily in constructing a new building, he repurposed the existing shed for mushroom cultivation. This allowed him to use available infrastructure instead of taking on the additional expense of setting up a farm from scratch.

From two kilograms of mushroom spawn to commercial production

Prithviraj began experimenting with oyster mushrooms in January 2025. He chose this variety because its cultivation process was relatively simple and required a smaller initial investment than some alternatives. His first experiment involved just two kilograms of mushroom spawn, which cost Rs 180, along with paddy straw obtained for free. Using these materials, he prepared 10 growing bags.

Around 22 days later, the first harvest yielded eight kg of mushrooms. He distributed the produce among friends and relatives, using the experience to understand the cultivation process before expanding the operation. He formally started commercial production in March 2025.

Farm now has around 4,000 growing bags

The operation has expanded significantly from its early days. According to the report, Prithviraj now manages approximately 4,000 mushroom-growing bags at different stages of production. The farm produces around 45 kg of mushrooms every day, translating to roughly 1,350 kg a month.

The mushrooms sell for approximately Rs 320 per kg. The report puts his monthly income at around Rs 4 lakh, although it does not specify whether this figure represents revenue or profit after expenses. His customer base includes local vegetable markets, supermarkets and retail sellers. Quick-commerce platforms such as Zepto are also among the buyers, with products supplied after meeting the required quality checks.

Finding dependable buyers has been an important part of expanding the business. Producing mushrooms is only one aspect of the operation; ensuring that the harvest reaches customers is equally important.

How he created another income stream from farm waste

Prithviraj has also looked for ways to make use of agricultural waste generated during cultivation. Instead of discarding the leftover material, he began using it for vermicomposting and manure production. This approach helps reduce waste while creating an additional source of income for the farm.

As the business grew, he also started training people interested in learning mushroom cultivation. His experience has given him an opportunity to share practical knowledge with aspiring growers who want to explore agriculture as a business. He believes that cultivation skills alone are not enough to build a sustainable venture. Marketing, identifying suitable buyers and understanding how to sell the produce are also important.

What aspiring mushroom farmers can learn from his journey

Prithviraj's experience highlights a few practical considerations for people looking to enter mushroom farming. First, an existing building or unused space may help reduce the initial setup cost, provided it can be adapted to meet the crop's growing requirements. Second, starting with a small batch allows new growers to understand the process before committing more money.


Finding a market is another crucial step. Farmers need to identify potential customers, understand quality requirements and plan how to sell their produce regularly. Prithviraj's next goal is to strengthen the mushroom market and encourage more people to explore cultivation. His approach combines production, waste management, training and marketing rather than relying on mushroom sales alone.

His journey from international business studies in France to farming in Bengaluru is an example of how an unconventional career choice can develop into a commercial venture. It also highlights the importance of testing an idea on a small scale before expanding it into a larger operation.