Nabarangpur, April 03: After completing a B.Tech degree, Vikramdev Mahapatra from Dalaisahi in Nabarangpur worked in software companies, earning a monthly salary in lakhs. However, driven by his passion for farming, he left his job. Today, he has become a successful agri-entrepreneur.
Under the Chief Minister’s Agricultural Entrepreneurship Scheme, he established a button mushroom unit and has become self-reliant, earning lakhs of rupees every month. Along with this, he has provided employment to 18 women and 6 men.
Vikram had worked for several years in different software companies in India and abroad. During the COVID period, he returned to his native place and, while working online from home, developed an interest in starting his own venture. Observing the high demand for button mushrooms—and the dependency of Nabarangpur on neighboring districts and other states for supply—he decided to set up a farm.
With support from the scheme, Vikram established his mushroom unit at Agnipur on the outskirts of Nabarangpur town. For the project, he took a bank loan of ₹2 crore and invested ₹1 crore of his own money. Under the scheme, he received a subsidy of ₹97 lakh (40%) for the unit.
Currently, the farm produces more than 500 kg of mushrooms daily. He sells them in the local market at wholesale prices ranging between ₹110 and ₹200 per kilogram. Additionally, he supplies mushrooms to other districts and states, creating a profitable market and building his own brand identity.
By providing employment to 24 local men and women, Vikram has set a remarkable example. His mushroom unit has become a source of inspiration for educated youth who remain unemployed for years while searching for jobs.
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