The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) here in association with NABARD has launched a project titled ‘Value chain development in mushrooms’ to promote entrepreneurship development in mushroom cultivation in the district.
The project aims at promoting oyster mushroom cultivation which has immense production potential over other varieties of mushrooms, N. Anilkumar, Director, MSSRF, said.
A recent study by the MSSRF revealed that the agro-climatic conditions in the district provide ideal ground for the growth of oyster mushrooms in the district, he said.
As many as 100 farmers from three grama panchayats and one municipality in the district would be trained in mushroom cultivation in the initial phase of the project. Mushroom production and marketing units would be set up in those local bodies to ensure a sustainable income to the farmers, he said.
Inaugurating the project on Wednesday, B. Swaminathan, General Manager, NABARD, urged farmer producer organisations to set up mushroom units in grama panchayats. Though the demand for mushroom had increased considerably in the district after the tourism boom, nearly 65 per cent of the demand was being met by the produce from neighbouring States, he pointed out.
N.S. Sajikumar, District Development Manager, NABARD, Wayanad, released a study report on the feasibility and status of mushroom cultivation in Wayanad on that occasion.
