Woman turns mushrooms into millions

By Our Correspondent,Khajura, Dec. 19: Padmika Bam, a 48-year-old successful farmer from Kausilyanagar, Kohalpur Municipality in Banke, has used her mushroom farming business to support her children’s education, sending one to the UK and another to Japan.

Having been involved in mushroom farming for nearly two decades, Bam has faced a series of ups and downs. 

Initially, the business was a struggle, and she experienced losses fo several years. However, over the past few years, she has earned a significant profit, which has allowed her to support her children’s education.

“It’s been 19–20 years since I started mushroom farming. There were many ups and downs, and in the early years, I faced a lot of losses. But for the last few years, the business has been profitable,” she said. 

“With the earnings, I have educated my three children, one has become a staff nurse and is now working at Jumla Hospital. One son is in the UK, and my daughter is in Japan. All of this has been possible because of this business,” Bam explained.

Before diving into mushroom farming, Bam was trained in incense and candle-making through a small enterprise initiative. 

After some years, she visited Madanpokhara in Palpa, where a friend was involved in mushroom farming. She was inspired by this experience and decided to start her own mushroom farm.

“In the beginning, I struggled to sell the mushrooms and even suffered losses. However, with time and experience, I started making profits. Now, my monthly income is around Rs. 600,000 to 700,000,” she said.

Bam’s husband has also been a supportive partner in the business, and together they employ four women. Aside from farming, Bam also trains people in mushroom cultivation, incense and candle making, and other small business skills. 

She has become a well-known trainer across the district and beyond, providing practical skills to many aspiring entrepreneurs.

She officially registered her farm, ‘Namuna Mushroom Farm,’ 10 years ago.  The farm, situated on 2.5 kaththa (about 1.2 acres) of land, currently produces mushrooms using 10,000 mushroom spawn units. 

Additionally, Bam is a central member of the Mushroom Farmers’ Federation. “I’ve come a long way, from learning the trade to becoming an expert in it. Now, I’m helping others learn and launch their own businesses,” Bam proudly shared.

Her success is a testament to the power of perseverance and the opportunities that can arise from traditional farming practices when combined with hard work and innovation.