Neupane makes millions from mushroom farm

BY HARI PRASAD KOIRALA,Urlabari, Nov. 2: Once burdened with heavy financial losses in business and cattle farming, 50-year-old Tirtha Neupane of Urlabari-8, Morang, has today established himself as one of the most successful mushroom farmers in the region.

What began in 2019 with just 300 mushroom bags (cylinders) on rented land has now expanded to 18,000 bags under the ‘Neupane Krishi Farm and Mushroom Industry.’ The venture has transformed his life, helping him recover the money he once lost and regain confidence in agriculture.

“I had hit rock bottom after my business and cattle farming failed,” he said. “But mushroom cultivation has given me new hope and the confidence to sustain my family.”

After spending eight years working abroad, Neupane returned home with his savings and invested in cattle farming. However, persistent problems, including poor technical support, unfair milk prices, and cattle deaths, led to five years of consecutive losses. Unable to recover costs or even repay his loans, he sold all his cattle and moved to Kathmandu to try his luck in business.

Though he ran a business in the capital for four years, it too failed to grow. “I learned a lot about trade, but my efforts didn’t pay off,” he said. 

Eventually, in 2019, Neupane returned to Urlabari empty-handed. Repairing his old cattle sheds, he decided to try something new, mushroom cultivation, right where his earlier dreams had collapsed.

Today, his mushroom farm not only produces in large volumes but also supplies to both local markets and major city stores. He employs two to three people full-time and provides seasonal work for up to a dozen locals. Neupane himself works alongside his team every day.

According to him, demand for locally produced mushrooms has grown rapidly, even from large department stores in major cities. His permanent home is in Phungling-2, Taplejung, where his family lives, while he manages the entire business on his own in Urlabari.

Recognising his dedication, the local government honoured him last year as the ‘Best Farmer,’ awarding him Rs. 10,000 in cash. The Urlabari Municipality has also supported him with 50 per cent grants on technical equipment, encouraging him to further expand production.

Since starting the farm, Neupane has not faced a loss even once. Because mushrooms are grown without pesticides, they are in high demand for being a healthy vegetable. Reduced imports of Indian mushrooms have also lowered competition in the market.

Unlike other vegetables that pass through several middlemen before reaching the consumers, mushrooms involve only one or two mediators, keeping prices stable for the past several years. Many Morang farmers now transport and sell mushrooms directly in nearby villages, allowing producers to earn more and consumers to buy at lower prices.

Over the past three years, Neupane has managed to save around 1 million rupees annually, even after deducting expenses.

He said, “If we produce vegetables according to local market demand, the income we seek abroad can very well be earned here in Nepal.”