Milky Mushroom Farming in India 2026
India's own summer mushroom that thrives in heat where others fail.
Overview
Milky mushroom (Calocybe indica), known as dudhiya in Hindi, is the first mushroom variety commercialised in India and is prized because it grows in hot weather when button and most oyster crops struggle. Its firm white fruiting bodies have a long shelf life of several days at room temperature, far better than other cultivated mushrooms, which makes marketing easier in warm regions. It is grown on pasteurised straw with a casing layer, in a method that sits between oyster and button mushroom in complexity. Suited to the hot plains of central, eastern and southern India, it lets growers there crop during the summer months when other mushrooms are off season. Demand is growing as consumers discover its taste and keeping quality, and it supports both fresh and value added sales. As always, treat yield and price figures as guides and confirm local market conditions before investing.
Climate
Milky mushroom needs warmth: spawn run is best around 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, and fruiting at about 30 to 38 degrees Celsius with 80 to 90 percent humidity. This heat tolerance is its main advantage, letting it crop in the hot summer months of the plains without cooling, though humidity must be maintained.
Soil
Grown on pasteurised paddy or wheat straw similar to oyster mushroom, but it requires a casing layer like button mushroom to trigger fruiting. The casing is usually pasteurised soil mixed with sand or coir pith and farmyard manure, which is spread over the colonised substrate.
Planting & Spacing
Pasteurised straw is mixed with grain spawn and packed in polythene bags, then kept warm in the dark for spawn run of about two to four weeks. Once white mycelium fully covers the substrate, a pasteurised casing layer is applied on top. Bags are kept warm and humid until pins form and develop into firm white mushrooms.
Varieties
Improved strains such as APK2 from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and selections from ICAR institutes are widely grown. These differ in yield, fruit size and heat tolerance, so pick a strain proven in your climate and buy from a reliable spawn source.
Care & Management
Hold high humidity through regular misting, keep the room warm, and give diffused light and gentle ventilation during fruiting. Keep the casing moist but not waterlogged. Hygiene matters less than in button mushroom but clean substrate and rooms still prevent competitor moulds. Harvest while caps are firm and white.
Pests & Diseases
It is fairly robust but can suffer from competitor moulds if straw is poorly pasteurised, and from flies and mites in the casing. Overwet casing can cause bacterial spotting. Good pasteurisation, clean casing material, fly screens and prompt removal of any infected bag keep problems low.
Yield & Harvest
Fruiting starts about a week or two after casing, and a crop usually gives two to three flushes over six to eight weeks, with a total cycle of roughly two months. Reported biological yields are high, often well above one kg of fresh mushroom per kg of dry substrate under good conditions, but treat such figures as ranges. Its standout feature is a shelf life of several days at room temperature.
Cost & Profit
Cost is moderate, more than oyster because of casing and humidity needs but less than year round button units in warm areas. The long shelf life cuts spoilage losses and eases transport, which improves net returns. Prices vary by region and season; in many warm areas it commands a good rate because few other mushrooms are available in summer. Confirm current local prices first.
These are indicative ranges. Actual cost and income vary by region, market and management, so verify locally.
Market & Demand
Sell fresh to local markets, hotels and restaurants, where its keeping quality is a strong selling point in hot regions. Because it survives a few days without refrigeration, it travels better to nearby towns than other fresh mushrooms. Drying and value added products extend the market further.
Subsidy & Support
Milky mushroom units are covered under the same horticulture support as other mushrooms through the National Horticulture Board and the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, plus state schemes for spawn, kits and training. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and ICAR institutes provide strains and training. Check your state horticulture department for current rates.
Where to grow it in India
Frequently asked questions
Why grow milky mushroom instead of button or oyster?
Does milky mushroom need a casing layer?
In which season is it best grown?
How long does milky mushroom stay fresh?
Is it harder to grow than oyster mushroom?
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