Siblings Ayush and Rishabh Gupta grew up watching their father dream of pursuing polyhouse farming – where crops are grown within a controlled environment.

“My father was working and could not dedicate full attention to it. He suggested my grandfather take it up, but he didn’t either. So, he always harboured this wish, and when my brother and I decided to venture into it, we knew where to start,” says Ayush.

The idea of farming kicked off when the brothers were in London and Dubai for their studies. The homesickness reunited the brothers and they started working toward their shared goal of running an organic polyhouse.

“We used to always discuss how, if we ever became business persons, we would enter the food industry. However, my father’s passion for having a farm motivated us to try our hand at that,” he says.

Nearly a decade ago while he was in Delhi, Ayush recalls how he launched a small mushroom business that made him realise the substantial profit potential of mushrooms.

In 2022, Ayush and Rishabh decided to tap into the mushroom market and started cultivating it on 2 acres while simultaneously growing other veggies such as cucumber, tomatoes, and potatoes on 1 acre of their farm in Agra.

“The region is predominantly inhabited by vegetarians who favour mushrooms. Button mushroom’s popularity has surged over the years as well,” says Ayush.

“With new recipes circulating online, people are relishing this chewy fungus. I even noticed mushrooms featuring prominently in wedding celebrations, with various dishes showcasing them as the main ingredient,” he adds.

Currently, the brothers yield about 40 tonnes of mushrooms per month. In total, their monthly sales exceed Rs 1 lakh and their annual turnover stands at Rs 7.5 crore.

Reflecting on his journey, Ayush says, “I know it is becoming increasingly uncommon for people to look down on a profession like farming.”

“People would comment on how there are better jobs out there, but with the right set of people and motivation, you can make it profitable,” he adds.

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