Milky Mushroom Mushroom Farm Setup
Calocybe indica
First indigenous mushroom commercialised in India. Tropical-friendly variety thriving at high temperatures. Best fit for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat. Standardised by ICAR-IIHR Bangalore.
Climate Specifications
Substrate and Cycle
- Substrate
- Pasteurised wheat or paddy straw
- Casing required
- Yes
- Spawn run
- 24 to 28 days
- Total cycle
- 57 to 60 days
- Flushes
- 2 per cycle
Equipment Specifications
- Footprint: 18 ft by 30 ft
- HVAC: 3 TR sufficient (lower cooling load due to high optimal temperature)
- 3 kW PTC industrial heater for winter operation
- PUF panels: standard specification
- Casing soil prep area
- Standard sterilisation equipment
Yield Benchmark
Capex Estimate Range
Capex estimates are indicative ranges. Final quotation requires site-specific design and BOQ. GST 18 percent extra. Transport and civil work at actuals. Quote validity 5 days from issue date.
How This Compares to Button Mushroom
| Dimension | Button | Milky Mushroom |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC capex | 6-12 TR | 3 TR |
| Operating cost (tropical) | High (chilling) | Lower (no chilling) |
| Climate fit | Hill / cool plains | Tropical states |
| Post-harvest shelf life | Short | Longer with refrigeration |
| Strain origin | European | Indigenous (ICAR-IIHR) |
Get a Detailed Quote for Milky Mushroom
About Milky Mushroom Cultivation in India
Milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) is India's first indigenous commercial mushroom, standardised by ICAR-IIHR Bangalore. Unlike European button or oyster strains that need cooling, milky mushroom thrives at 35 to 38 deg C — which makes it the only economically viable variety for tropical states without round-the-year chilling.
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat are the natural geographies for milky mushroom because the operating cost of HVAC drops dramatically: a 3 TR Daikin unit replaces the 6 to 12 TR cooling load of a button mushroom room. Total capex falls to Rs 5 to 7.5 lakh per module — the lowest in the commercial-mushroom category.
The variety also has strong post-harvest economics: shelf life is 2 to 3 days at ambient and 10 to 15 days under 4 deg C cold storage, which opens up modern-trade and HoReCa channels in metro cities. MushroomWale builds milky mushroom rooms with casing-soil prep areas, 3 kW PTC industrial heaters for winter operation, and standard PUF + sterilisation packages.
Milky Mushroom — Frequently Asked Questions
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