# Kerala Woman Turns ₹250 into ₹90 Lakh Mushroom Business

> Kerala woman started mushroom business with ₹250 in 2007, now earns ₹90 lakh yearly.
- Title: Kerala Woman Turns ₹250 into ₹90 Lakh Mushroom Business · mint
- Summary: Kerala woman started mushroom business with ₹250 in 2007, now earns ₹90 lakh yearly. Kerala couple Shije and Thankachan turned a ₹250 investment into a…
- Keywords: shije, thankachan, coonfresh, mushroom farming, kerala, mushroom business, annual revenue, value-added products, training programmes, news, india, Woman
- Source: mint — https://livemint.com/news/trends/meet-kerala-woman-who-turned-250-into-mushroom-business-earning-90-lakh-annually-heres-how-she-did-it-11792590065489.html
- Author: Anjali Thakur
- Published: 2026-10-21T14:03:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: shije, thankachan, coonfresh, mushroom farming, kerala, mushroom business, annual revenue, value-added products, training programmes, news, india
## Shije starts mushroom business
Shije began growing mushrooms in 2007 with five mushroom beds, investing ₹ 250 in initial supplies.
## Coon Fresh launched in 2009
Shije and her husband Thankachan launched Coon Fresh in 2009, expanding into mushroom cultivation and value-added products.
## From 5 beds to 6,000 beds
The couple expanded from five mushroom beds to around 6,000 beds, producing 12 tonnes of mushrooms annually.
## Annual revenue of ₹80, 90 lakh
Coon Fresh generates ₹80, 90 lakh in annual revenue, representing total sales not profit.
## Diversified business model
Coon Fresh sells mushroom spawn, value-added products, and conducts training programmes for 10,000 people.
## Targeting ₹1.6 crore revenue
Shije and Thankachan aim to reach ₹1.6 crore annual revenue, requiring revenue to nearly double.
## Key takeaway

Kerala couple Shije and Thankachan turned a ₹250 investment into a mushroom business generating ₹80, 90 lakh annually by expanding cultivation and adding value-added products.