Pesticide-free mushroom farming is being practiced by women farmers in Elakamon grama panchayat, which is steadily changing agricultural practices in rural Thiruvananthapuram.
Training On Mushroom Farming
The Agriculture Department is training 100 women farmers in mushroom production in two phases as part of a program to secure permanent income for women farmers.
On Sunday, the first group of 50 women who completed the training harvested the mushroom they had grown. Balakrishnan, an Elakamon Assistant Agriculture Officer, received the first mushroom sale. The initial batch grew a total of 500kg of pesticide-free mushrooms.
According to Agriculture Department officials, training is being provided in a continuous farming system that will allow for monthly harvesting. Thanks to funds allocated by the Elakamon panchayat from its plan fund, seeds, and growing equipment were distributed free of charge.
The panchayat intends to expand its reach by adding additional beneficiaries. Laiju Raj, deputy president of the Elakamon panchayat, as well as ward representatives and women farmers, were present.
Mushroom Cultivation: A Profitable Venture In India
Cultivation of mushrooms in our country is slowly gaining popularity and in current times is considered one of the most profitable businesses to do with bare minimum expenses and cultivation space.
Presently, three kinds of mushrooms are grown in our country namely white or button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and paddy straw mushrooms. Out of all the three kinds, white ones are the most popular and largely cultivated in India because of less expenditure.
Paddy straw mushrooms grow between 35 to 45 degree Celsius; button or White mushroom grows in the cold climatic region and oyster mushrooms grow in the northern plains of our country.
