Malekhu: Binod Paudel, a former Nepali migrant worker who had spent five years working in the United Arab Emirates, has discovered a prosperous niche in mushroom farming back home in Nepal.

Upon returning from his foreign job, Paudel decided to embark on a new agricultural venture in his homeland. He initiated his mushroom farming venture in Kebalpur, located in Thakre Rural Municipality-10, Dhading district, with an initial investment of NPR 10 million.

Having worked for a consultant company in the UAE, where he earned a monthly salary of approximately NPR 100,000, Paudel decided to start this agricultural venture on the advice of his family. He initiated the farming project four years ago, and it has since thrived.

Starting as a partnership in Nagarjun Municipality-5, Kathmandu, in 2076 BS, Paudel's farming operations have now expanded to encompass 30 ropanis of land in Dhading. He has constructed 45 sheds dedicated to mushroom cultivation, along with a greenhouse covering two ropanis of land. Paudel himself owns 10 ropanis of the land used for mushroom farming and has rented an additional 20 ropanis for the purpose. Overall, he has invested NPR 10 million in his burgeoning business.

He harvests around 500 kg of mushrooms daily, which are transported to the Kalimati fruit and vegetable market. Paudel sells approximately 10,000 kg of mushrooms each month, totaling 120,000 kg annually, with an annual revenue of NPR 14.4 million. In the local market, one kilogram of mushrooms fetches an average price of NPR 120. To facilitate the transportation of his produce, he acquired a vehicle for NPR 2.5 million and employs three full-time workers alongside six part-time workers.

Reflecting on his journey, Paudel expressed immense pride in his ability to provide jobs for his fellow countrymen and women. His farming venture has significantly improved his financial prospects, resulting in a monthly net income of NPR 120,000.

Furthermore, Paudel received a government subsidy of NPR 600,000, which he used to construct two additional greenhouses for his mushroom farming venture. He shared his satisfaction in being able to contribute both to his family and the state through agriculture, despite the challenges he faced.

In this endeavor, mushroom seeds are germinated in sacks of two kilograms of straw during the summer and three kilograms of straw during the winter. Laborers are remunerated NPR 32 per sack for their work in preparing the straw sacks and hanging them in the greenhouse. This provides them an average daily income of NPR 1,000.

Binod Paudel's inspiring success story illustrates the potential for entrepreneurship and prosperity upon returning from foreign employment, enriching both individuals and the agricultural landscape of Nepal.