Cost-return analysis of mushroom enterprise in Punjab and Haryana

The farmers of Punjab and Haryana have undertaken mushroom as a subsidiary occupation for enhancing their income. Therefore, the present study was undertaken with the objective of estimating the cost and returns associated with mushroom as a subsidiary agricultural enterprise under the integrated farming system (IFS) model of crop + dairy + mushroom. The fixed cost, variable cost, gross returns and net returns were estimated using the primary data collected by the 60 farmers from Punjab and Haryana i.e., 30 respondents from each state practising crop + dairy + mushroom IFS model. The study has indicated that the mushroom enterprises were providing a net return of Rs. 30.50/kg and Rs. 29.76/kg in Punjab and Haryana, deeming it to be a highly profitable venture across the farm sizes. However, mushroom enterprise requires heavy initial investment therefore proper credit and marketing facilities should be made available to mushroom growers to promote mushroom cultivation in the study areas.