Mushroom cultivation emerges new agri activity in Pulwama

Pulwama, Oct 13: Mushroom cultivation is emerging as a new agriculture activity in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Over the past couple of years, a number of mushroom cultivation units have been set up in different areas of the district especially by women folk helping them to move towards economic self-sufficiency.
District Mushroom Development Officer, Pulwama, Dr Showkat Ahma told Rising Kashmir that around 43 units have been established by growers in the district.
“40 units have been established with assistance from the department and 3 are self-sponsored,” he said.
He said that 27 units have been established by female growers.
“ 15 girl mushroom growers are either post graduate or graduate in different subjects,” he said.
These days the button mushroom variety is in full bloom and many growers have started harvesting the cash crop.
The officer informed that from past three days growers have been harvesting the button mushrooms.
“The spawning was done on September 10 and harvesting begun on 10 October and it will continue till second week of November,” he said, adding that they expect around 80 quintals of yield.
In the summer season the harvest was around 36 quintals from 25 units.
The officer added that mushroom is a cash crop from which growers reach good returns.
Rumi Jan is a young mushroom grower from Rahmoo village of Pulwama district who is also pursuing her bachelor’s degree
informed that on the first day of harvest on Thursday, she harvested 20 kilograms of mushroom from his unit having 100 spawn containing substratum bags.
“ I expect the unit will yield around 150 kilograms of mushroom,” she said, adding that one kilogram is selling at rupees 160.
“There is good profit in this activity and a number of young girls in my village have taken to mushroom cultivation,” she said, adding that she was provided a subsidy amount by the department which covered her investment cost.
She expressed her gratitude to NRLM for helping them in establishment of these units in convergence mode with agriculture department.
She further said that this is a new activity for them and they get technical guidance from officials of concerned department from time to time.
The young grower told that it is easy and suitable for women folk.
“ The spawn containing substratum filled in bags needs to be sprinkled with water twice a day,” she said.
Another grower from same village, Neloofer, said that she has been in mushroom cultivation from past couple of years.
The grower said that she has been reaping good dividends and is delirious to do it at a much bigger level.
She is looking for assistance from the department to turn her dreams into reality.