Doctor Dahiya Mushroom Farm: A journey of persistence and success | Fusion - WeRIndia

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many to adapt, Sonia Dahiya, an assistant professor in biotechnology, and her husband Vijay, a mathematics professor, saw it as an opportunity to pursue a new venture, mushroom farming.

Despite scepticism from family and friends, who questioned their decision to leave stable careers, the couple launched Doctor Dahiya Mushroom Farm in Sonipat, Haryana.

With an initial investment of ₹40 lakhs from their savings, Sonia and Vijay set up two mushroom growing rooms. However, they quickly encountered challenges.

The rooms didn’t yield a consistent flow of mushrooms, and the compost they purchased from the market didn’t meet their expectations. Determined to make it work, they decided to set up their own compost unit, investing an additional ₹20 lakhs.

This move paid off, as it improved both the quality of compost and their mushroom output.

By 2022, the couple expanded their farm by adding two more growing rooms. Their business flourished, and they began selling mushrooms wholesale in Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi.

They also found a steady customer base among caterers, restaurants, and banquet halls.

As word spread about the quality of their produce, they received consultancy requests from others looking to start their own mushroom farms.

Sonia and Vijay helped set up about ten farms for a small fee, sharing their knowledge and experience.

Today, Doctor Dahiya Mushroom Farm produces 9 to 10 tonnes of mushrooms every month, including varieties like button, portobello, oyster, and milky mushrooms.

While they don’t heavily market their products, word-of-mouth has been key to their success.

Sonia’s farm has also become a platform for empowering women, providing stable employment to ten women and daily wage work to fifteen others in the community.

From humble beginnings, Doctor Dahiya Mushroom Farm is now a successful venture, proving that with determination, research, and hard work, dreams can become reality.

Image Credit: Peachyeung316, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_White_Mushrooms_in_Hong_Kong.jpg

Image Reference: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_White_Mushrooms_in_Hong_Kong_(cropped).jpg