Korei, 7th Nov 2025: For the past 10 years, Chinmayee, a resident of Tandara village under Korei block in Jajpur district, has become self-reliant through mushroom cultivation. Not only has she achieved financial independence herself, but she has also helped 10 other women in her village become self-sufficient through the same occupation.
By selling mushrooms, Chinmayee earns about ₹20,000 per month, and by supplying mushrooms to nearby markets, she earns even more.
She said that earlier her father-in-law, mother-in-law, and husband Dileep worked for a private contractor, and the family’s financial struggles forced her to look for a source of income. With the help of a women’s self-help group, she learned the techniques of mushroom cultivation. In 2018, she started her own small shed for mushroom production, which now brings her a monthly income between ₹15,000 and ₹90,000.
In addition, Chinmayee has guided 12 other women in setting up their own small sheds. Each of them now earns between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000 per month through mushroom farming. She has thus paved the way for women’s empowerment in her locality.
Her ninth-grade son also helps her in the business. From the very first harvest, Chinmayee managed all the expenses and production costs herself.
The mushrooms she produces are sold in local markets such as Shankhchila, Panikoili, and Byasanagar, and are also supplied daily to Cuttack, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Jagatsinghpur.
Chinmayee recalls that during her initial attempt, she sold mushrooms worth ₹1,000 in the local market, which motivated her to pursue mushroom farming full-time. Later, with the support of other women and assistance from local agencies, she established a larger mushroom shed and began supplying to Jagatsinghpur and nearby areas.
She believes that if the government provides more support and incentives, mushroom cultivation can become a significant source of income and help many more women in rural Odisha achieve economic independence.
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