Manas Ranjan Dash cannot turn his neck or stand straight, but that hasn’t stopped him from standing tall in Odisha’s agribusiness landscape. Battling Ankylosing Spondylitis, a debilitating condition that fuses the spine, this determined entrepreneur has turned a physical limitation into a thriving mushroom revolution near Cuttack.
Manas Ranjan Dash- A Test of Resilience
For Manas, the journey to founding Ritanjali Mushroom Farm in 2018 was paved with pain and professional pivots. His condition, triggered by years of sedentary work as a video editor where he sat for 17 hours a day, forced him to leave the industry.
“I have spondylitis. My neck cannot turn… doctors told me it cannot be cured,” Manas revealed in a recent interview. “But if you know how to farm, you find your own solutions.”
Inspired by the rapid harvest cycles of paddy straw mushrooms, Manas initially faced failure. His 2017 pilot project collapsed due to a lack of technical expertise in climate control. However, instead of quitting, he sought formal training at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), mastering the art of protected cultivation.
Weathering the Storm
Armed with knowledge and a loan from his wife’s Self-Help Group (SHG), Manas built a polyhouse, only to see it destroyed by Cyclone Fani in 2019. Yet, his resolve remained unbroken. He rebuilt using automated iron racks to optimize space and improve climate resilience.
Today, his persistence is paying off:
- Daily Production: Ritanjali harvests 20-25 kg of fresh oyster mushrooms every day.
- Business Model: He operates on a direct-to-consumer (B2C) model to ensure quality and price stability.
- Value Addition: Surplus produce is converted into high-margin products like dried powders, pickles, and cookies.
Empowering a Community
Manas is not just growing mushrooms; he is growing an ecosystem. He has trained over 700 individuals in protected cultivation, helping rural communities generate sustainable income. His farm’s annual revenue touched Rs. 9 lakh last year, with projections set to cross Rs. 12 lakh soon.
Looking ahead, Manas aims to introduce premium medicinal varieties like Shiitake and Ganoderma, along with health-conscious millet-based snacks.
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The Takeaway
Manas Ranjan Dash’s story is a powerful reminder that limitations are often just challenges waiting to be outmaneuvered. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or facing personal hurdles, his journey proves that with technical skill and grit, you can bloom even in the harshest conditions.
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