Ammakkoottam: M. Gangadevi, Rashmi, Vinitha, Shyamala, Meta, Tessy, Sajini.
Vailoppilli: Between Erattupetta and Pala, in Thalappalam, a unique mushroom farm called Ammakkoottam is taking shape. A group of women are reaping benefits by selling mushrooms and making value-added products from them. They are proving that any goal can be achieved by standing together without faltering in the face of crises.
An initiative that started at the panchayat level later grew into a big venture. The venture, which started with the aim of finding employment for a few housewives, has now become one that provides jobs to many people. Initially, the mushroom cultivation was in a small room. As they received a good response as soon as they started farming, more people joined the venture.
The members came together, rented a room, and started farming. They made mushrooms and mushroom products. They used to sell them in their own homes and in shops. Slowly, they created a brand called Ammakkoottam. Today, these women bring 30 kilos of mushrooms to the market from this hi-tech unit, along with many value-added products.
They make products like sweet pickle, regular pickle, pudding powder, and roasted chutney powder. The raw materials are sourced from local home gardens. As they were able to bring pure, unadulterated products to the people, more customers sought them out.
Sweet pickle and regular pickle are among the products prepared from mushrooms.
Pudding powder is part of their growing value-added range.
Roasted chutney powder uses raw materials sourced from local home gardens.
They focus on pure, unadulterated products that helped more customers seek them out.
At first, it was just mushrooms, but a market of their own was not easy for them. That’s when Vinitha, Sajini, Shyamala, Meta, and Tessy, a total of seven members, got ready to venture into mushroom farming. That’s how the collective was formed.
Currently, the production is in two hi-tech mushroom sheds of 538 square feet each, which can accommodate 2400 beds. The 30 kilos of mushrooms harvested daily are sold in various towns in vehicles as blocks, pickled mushrooms, and fresh mushrooms. As the demand increased, three more mushroom sheds have been set up, expanding the cultivation to 12,000 beds.
538 sq ft each
Two hi-tech mushroom sheds.
2,400 beds
Capacity in the current sheds.
30 kg daily
Mushrooms harvested and taken to market.
12,000 beds
Expansion after three more sheds were set up.
They received special training in hi-tech mushroom cultivation and mushroom processing. The venture was started with the help of the agriculture department and the panchayat. At first, they cultivated in a shed built adjacent to a house.
Later, they expanded the venture by taking loans from Kudumbashree and the block panchayat. Now they have two entrepreneurial units of their own. In each unit, two AC plants operating with modern technology have been installed. Many people come here to learn about their mushroom cultivation methods and value-added products. They also provide necessary training to them.
An important topic discussed in our place is the amount of oil used to make ‘upperi’ (stir-fried vegetables) or dry-fried meat. To avoid this, it is said that sesame oil is better than the currently used coconut oil. If 20% water is added along with the currently used dried and powdered green chilies and ‘thudam puli’ (Garcinia cambogia/kudampuli) and ground in a mixer, it doesn’t require much effort. And enough coconut oil…
There is a high demand in the market for mushrooms dried using a dryer. They are now preparing to set up a vermicompost unit using the waste generated after mushroom cultivation. The aim is to provide vermicompost to farmers at a reasonable rate.
Besides mushroom curry powder, masala powders, and pickles, they are also introducing a snack called ‘koon murukku’ to the market. Currently, 200 kilograms of wet mushrooms can be dried at the same time in the self-made mushroom dryer.
Dried mushrooms have high market demand when processed using a dryer.
Waste after mushroom cultivation is planned for a vermicompost unit.
Mushroom curry powder, masala powders and pickles are part of the product line.
Koon murukku is being introduced to the market as a mushroom snack.
They say that not only mushrooms, but also their value-added products, are in high demand. Along with preparing mushroom dishes, this provides employment to many women for farming and other needs. Since mushrooms are a storehouse of Vitamin D and protein, they are in high demand.
They are experimenting with several mushroom items like snacks, payasam, and pickles. Many people give up on mushrooms due to price increases. The difficulty in growing mushrooms and the fact that they are cultivated in closed rooms are reasons for this.
When they dry 100 kilos of mushrooms, they get a weight of up to twenty grams. When 50 kilos of fresh mushrooms are dried, they get five kilos of dried mushrooms. The price for this in the local market is ₹1,864 per kilo.
They say that with government encouragement, mushroom cultivation can be expanded to more people. Each item is prepared without adding artificial colors or chemicals. The members of Ammakkoottam say that for the price they charge, they can deliver excellent mushrooms to homes and earn extra income.
Besides mushroom products, they also make and sell mushroom biryani. They deliver it to hotels and homes based on orders.
Mushroom dishes: 8139873599
🍄 Where is Ammakkoottam mushroom farm located?
Ammakkoottam is taking shape in Thalappalam, between Erattupetta and Pala, at Vailoppilli. The article describes it as a unique mushroom farm where a group of women sell mushrooms and make value-added mushroom products.
👩🌾 Who are the members behind Ammakkoottam?
The Ammakkoottam members named in the article are M. Gangadevi, Rashmi, Vinitha, Shyamala, Meta, Tessy and Sajini. The women came together as a collective and built the venture after beginning mushroom cultivation on a small scale.
🏭 How many mushroom beds does Ammakkoottam have?
The production began in two hi-tech mushroom sheds of 538 square feet each, with space for 2,400 beds. As demand increased, three more mushroom sheds were set up, expanding the cultivation to 12,000 beds.
⚖️ How much mushroom does Ammakkoottam harvest daily?
The women bring 30 kilos of mushrooms to the market daily from the hi-tech unit. These mushrooms are sold in various towns in vehicles as blocks, pickled mushrooms and fresh mushrooms.
🥒 What value-added mushroom products do they make?
Ammakkoottam makes sweet pickle, regular pickle, pudding powder, roasted chutney powder, mushroom curry powder, masala powders and pickles. They are also introducing koon murukku and experimenting with mushroom items such as snacks, payasam and pickles.
🔥 Why are dried mushrooms important for their business?
There is high demand in the market for mushrooms dried using a dryer. Ammakkoottam uses a self-made mushroom dryer that can dry 200 kilograms of wet mushrooms at the same time, helping them create higher-value products for customers.
🌿 Does Ammakkoottam use artificial colors or chemicals?
The members say each item is prepared without adding artificial colors or chemicals. The article also notes that raw materials are sourced from local home gardens, helping them bring pure, unadulterated products to people.
