The entrepreneurial path of Trupti Dhakate encourages us to have great dreams and work tirelessly to realise them.
Trupti Dhakate, a Gold Medallist in Botany from Nagpur University, decided to grow mushrooms in order to give people plant-based protein substitutes. Trupti, a former professor of microbiology, battled to establish a market for her mushrooms before creating a company that now serves clients all throughout India.
She created her brand, Quality Mushroom, without any official business training. With patience and hard effort, she now earns Rs 4 lakh a month. Trupti’s business story encourages us to have great dreams and work hard to realise them.
Initial challenges and struggle
Trupti, who received a gold medal in botany from Nagpur University, became an entrepreneur because she loved mushrooms. She left her position as a microbiology professor to start her own company after doing a great deal of research on mushrooms. In 2018, she started a mushroom farming business after gaining practical expertise in mushroom cultivation.
Soon after starting the company, marketing the produce was Trupti’s main obstacle. Due to her lack of marketing knowledge, selling the mushroom was extremely challenging. Without any official business training, she had to pick up everything on the fly, from distribution to packing. Nevertheless, Trupti persevered despite obstacles. Trupti visited the local markets, set up tasting stations, and distributed free samples to raise awareness of the product. Although it took a lot of effort, people gradually started to realise it. Trupti persevered and ultimately relished the delightful aroma of accomplishment. Her company, Quality Mushroom, currently provides home delivery services and wholesale mushroom supplies throughout India.
Trupti gets her husband’s support
Trupti’s spouse was always there to support her efforts despite the business’s many ups and downs. Her spouse actively participated in the firm and contributed about Rs 3 lakhs to it.
Coronavirus outbreak gives lift to business
The coronavirus outbreak changed the course of Trupti’s operations. People were searching for plant-based protein sources during the epidemic, and mushrooms were the ideal choice. People began to realise how important it was to include mushrooms in their diet at this period. This helped her mushroom business grow.
Empowering women and small-scale farmers
The core of Trupti’s operations is the empowerment of small-scale farmers and women. She exhorts farmers to embrace sustainable farming practices. Through training sessions and workshops, she has informed over 7,000 students and helped more than 200 farmers start their own mushroom farms.
Emphasis on organic farming
Trupti’s assistance in the shift to natural, organic farming has been consistent. Given the potential health risks associated with artificial pesticides, she consistently urges farmers to transition to natural agriculture practices.