Entering a niche market is no easy task, especially when you are operating from rural Thalavoor. But that did not stop Lalu Thomas from launching La Bae, perhaps the first mushroom coffee brand from Kerala developed with the support of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
Though the product has been introduced in export and online markets without any air-tight business plan, its monthly turnover has crossed Rs 1 lakh in a couple of months. And now, the success of the small business has prompted the Thalavoor panchayat to come up with ‘Koon Gramam’, a project to extend mushroom cultivation in the area. The local body has started training around 100 farmers to cultivate mushroom that will be procured for the production of La Bae.
“We have set aside funds for the project and most of our beneficiaries are women. Mushroom cultivation is easier compared with other crops and through this project we aim to attain self-sufficiency in production,” says V.S. Kaladevi, panchayat president.
