Ex-Coder Grows Fresh Mushrooms Year-Round in Kanpur

Anubhav Shukla swapped coding screens for mushroom chambers, and now he's growing fresh produce 365 days a year in Kanpur, India.

The former frontend developer left his software job to launch something completely different: a small indoor farm where button mushrooms thrive in artificially controlled conditions. While traditional growers rely on winter's natural chill, Shukla's air-conditioned unit maintains perfect temperature and humidity year-round, allowing continuous harvests no matter what's happening outside.

The transition wasn't smooth. For six months, batch after batch failed as Shukla experimented with temperature ranges, airflow, and humidity levels. By month seven, something finally clicked. The system stabilized, yields became predictable, and what started as frustrated trial and error transformed into steady, reliable production.

His method follows nature's blueprint but removes the guesswork. Prepared compost mixed with spawn enters a controlled chamber where temperatures guide the mycelium's growth. A careful temperature drop triggers pin formation, followed by multiple harvest flushes over several days. Every variable stays monitored: air circulation, moisture levels, carbon dioxide concentration.

What drove a tech worker into farming? Shukla watched chemical use in vegetables climb while farmland shrank and realized controlled indoor growing offered a real alternative for people without acres of land. "This crop needs precision more than land," he explains, noting that artificial control delivers consistent results even as weather patterns shift unpredictably.

Funding the venture meant dipping into personal savings first, then seeking formal support through the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan program. Local officials helped him navigate documentation and bank processes, securing working capital that stabilized operations. The program provided backup support without micromanaging, letting Shukla focus on perfecting his production cycle.

As routines settled, he brought on a small team to handle daily tasks, spreading the workload and ensuring nothing stops if he needs to step away. The change has brought regularity to both income and schedule, replacing the uncertainty that defined those difficult early months.

Why This Inspires

Shukla's story proves that career pivots don't require perfect plans or instant success. His six months of failed batches could have ended the experiment, but persistence through the messy middle led to something sustainable. He's showing that modern farming can happen in small spaces with smart systems, opening doors for people who lack traditional farming resources but have curiosity and determination.

Looking back, Shukla sees his journey less as a dramatic leap and more as patient adjustments adding up. What began as experimentation in a single room has become steady, meaningful work built on learning, adaptation, and the quiet confidence that comes from finally finding balance.