Let farmers’ fortunes mushroom : The Tribune India

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Let farmers’ fortunes mushroom

SOURCE OF VITAMINS D:Solan was conferred with the title of the ‘Mushroom city of India’ nearly 22 years ago for outstanding research carried out by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)-run Directorate of Mushroom Research (DMR).

Let farmers’ fortunes mushroom

Mushroom cultivation under way in a room in Solan; and (right) the Mushroom city of India pillar welcomes visitors.



Ambika Sharma

Solan was conferred with the title of the ‘Mushroom city of India’ nearly 22 years ago for outstanding research carried out by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)-run Directorate of Mushroom Research (DMR). Today, mushroom cultivation has picked up in every nook and corner of the town.

In 1961, the state government in coordination with the ICAR had initiated a project for the cultivation of white button mushroom at Solan. This was followed by the Horticulture Department launching a mushroom development project in 1977 to give impetus to research and assist farmers. 

The National Centre for Mushroom Research and Training (NCMRT) at Solan (which was later renamed as National Research Centre for Mushroom) came into existence in 1983 during the Sixth Five Year Plan. It was set up under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) along with an All-India Coordinated Mushroom Improvement Project (AICMIP) with six centres at various agricultural universities in five states and the headquarters at Solan. Its key objective was to undertake research on various aspects of mushroom and assist farmers in its cultivation. 

Mushroom cultivation has increased from 40,000 metric tonnes in 1996 to 181,980 metric tonnes this year — a quantum leap of 26,427 metric tonnes was achieved in the last one year. Button mushroom, which is largely cultivated in Himachal, comprises 75 per cent of the total mushroom production in the country. At 14,505 metric tonnes per annum, Himachal occupies the fifth position after Haryana, Odisa, Maharashtra and Punjab in the production of this low-calorie food. Globally, China is the largest producer though most of its produce is consumed within that country.  

High-yielding hybrid variety

Of various varieties, button mushroom is grown in Himachal. Oyster mushroom, paddy straw and milky mushroom are other varieties that are also grown in various states. Being a seasonal venture, the long method compost is used in its cultivation. One of the major achievements of the ICAR-DMR has been the introduction of DMR-NBS 5 variety that is now contributing around 32 per cent of the total mushroom production in the country. It is also the world’s first browning-resistant high yielding hybrid of white button mushroom and is considered a major milestone in its cultivation.

Source of vitamins D, B12 

What makes mushroom unique is its low cost and high nutrient value. It is acclaimed globally for being the lone vegetable source of vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Given its huge demand in Himachal, its potential in supplementing the farm income is yet to be optimally harnessed. The state depends on Haryana to fulfil its demand and inherent problems that farmers face have stunted the development of this low-cost food crop.

Not an agricultural venture

Notwithstanding its immense potential to provide self-employment to the youth, mushroom production is yet to be recognised as an agricultural venture in the state. Farmers have repeatedly raised this demand in the past one decade but the government is yet to do the needful. This will facilitate the growers, as then they will not be levied commercial power tariff and the input cost will also come down substantially.

Perishable commodity

Mushroom is a highly perishable commodity, having a shelf-life of 2 or 3 days. The farmers have to sell the crop immediately though given its growing demand in the market, finding buyers is not an issue, says VP Sharma, Director, DMR, Chambaghat, Solan. As there are only a few processing facilities available locally, the farmers are always in a tearing hurry to sell their produce at the earliest. 

To promote mushroom cultivation, the state government has initiated several schemes, including a provision of training by the Department of Horticulture, but more needs to be done to encourage more people to adopt it as primary occupation. A provision of extension services to equip the growers with technical know-how, providing compost to all and not only to registered ones and encouraging the youth to take up ancillary ventures such as spawn and compost production can provide an impetus to its production. For most of the farmers growing mushroom is a secondary avocation and thus they invest less time in it. 

Haryana top producer

The production of mushroom in Himachal has multiplied in the last about two decades but the state has not been able to compete with Haryana, which is number one in the country. It is a venture that can double the farmers’ income in three months and also empower rural women by enabling them to earn at home. As most of the farmers have small landholdings, there is not much scope to expand agriculture. And if given a major push, mushroom farming, which is cultivated in rooms, can easily double the farmers’ income within a short span of time. 

Less water required

Mushroom has another advantage — it uses considerably less water. Compared to 2,500 litres of water required for growing one kilogram of rice, merely 25 litres of water is used for one kilogram of mushroom. Globally, its production has grown by 200 per cent in the last 55 years while it has grown merely by 4.3 per cent annually in India. However, its production has grown exponentially in the last two years.  

Shortage of compost

Mushroom cultivation thrives on compost, which comprises about one-fourth of its manufacturing cost. However, a lack of its availability within the state forces the farmers to procure costly compost from Punjab and Haryana. This enhances the production cost by nearly 30 per cent and thus the locally-grown mushroom is costlier than the Haryana produce. The optimum temperature for growing mushroom is between 18 degree C and 35 degree C and hence the farmers in Himachal have a limited time period to grow the crop. Moreover, creating controlled temperature conditions adds to the cost. 

Dr VP Sharma says, “Our farmers will be productive if their problems are sorted out. High energy costs reduce profitability. Thus lowering energy use through diversification will be helpful in mushroom cultivation. One kilogram of mushroom grown in Himachal is sold for Rs 60 to Rs 70 while the same quantity from Haryana is sold for Rs 40 in our state. Thus, Haryana farmers find an ideal market for their produce in Himachal”.

Paucity of space

The shortage of space is another constraint the growers face in the hill state. They generally erect permanent structures to raise the crop, season after season. This often causes contamination due to disease causing build-up of bacteria. Also, it reduces the yield and the space remains unutilised when mushroom cultivation is not undertaken.

On the other hand, farmers in Punjab and Haryana construct low-cost temporary structures to grow mushroom and dismantle them after the season. This practice leads to a high yield and a healthy crop. Changing sites every season enables a grower to reap an optimum yield in plains where the availability of more space is an inherent advantage. 

Despite these hardships, the hardworking growers of Himachal are not deterred and they have made big strides in growing mushroom. Several educated youths have come forward to take up its cultivation, especially in Solan, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, Bilaspur and Shimla. 

Awareness campaigns

The mushroom industry in India is facing several challenges, the foremost being the need to promote its consumption in the country through awareness campaigns about its health benefits and mass media. In European countries and the USA, its consumption ranges from 4 kg to 5 kg per person per annum while in India, it is deplorably poor at 0.1 kg per person per annum.

Standard techniques  

The mushroom cultivation techniques are yet to be standardised and the farmers chiefly depend on their experience to improve crop prospects. “The need of the hour is to develop standard models for different mushroom types and improve the capacity of mushroom units for their mechanisation. Uniformity in design will fetch uniform and higher mushroom production,” says Sharma. 

He says that seasonal mushroom cultivation in India uses the long method compost, which invites diseases and pests and yields low productivity. It also enhances the load of pathogens in the environment. The need to shift to the short method/ indoor composting technique to minimise disease and pest problems will help in enhancing the production of mushroom.

Cold chain management

With a few options of mushroom processing available, the post-harvest losses are very high due to its low shelf-life.  Cold chain management must be put in place to reduce losses and better packaging of the produce ensured for longer shelf-life as well as for introducing value-added products. Marketing strategies for mushroom must be studied and developed.

Waste generation

It being a waste-generating venture is another challenge for the growers. “One kilogram of mushroom production generates around 5 kg of spent substrate. Till now, we don’t have any strategy to utilise this waste. This can, however, act as an important carbon sink for the reclamation of sick soil and to increase the fertility of cereal and horticultural crops. It can also be used as fuel (in briquette making) and feed for cattle. Technical interventions must be devised for putting it to use for various purposes,” says Sharma.

Sort out issues

Sharma says, “If a farmer fails, scientists and policymakers have to share the blame. There is need to sort out various issues such as subsidy on infrastructure and inputs, soft loans, availability of right technology, subsidised quality seeds, timely availability of inputs, better roads and other rural infrastructure”.

Other issues such as assured irrigation, disease control, quality harvest, assured electricity supply at a reasonable price and subsidised machine hiring centres will also help address the growers’ distress. Besides, better storage and packaging facilities, cold stores and warehousing, canning, value addition, transportation, presence of cooperative societies and market reforms are also needed urgently, he says. 

Vinod Thakur, a mushroom farmer, started his venture from one room in his house. He set up a small dedicated unit and today he is growing about four to five quintals of mushroom per annum. He says that demand fluctuations in the market govern the prices of mushroom and if the supply is less the produce fetches a higher price. Thakur has employed eight to 10 people. He says that the state government should consider relaxing commercial tariffs, as it will help him to further develop his venture.

Neeraj Kumar, another farmer from a village in Kasauli, says that he earns Rs 80,000 in a season on an investment of Rs 25,000. Given its high demand, we face no problem in selling our produce. Neeraj took up mushroom cultivation three years ago. And since then, encouraged by instant returns, he has been cultivating it in a room.

Only 2 large units in state

There are only two medium to large scale button mushroom production units (Himalayan International Pvt Ltd at Paonta Sahib and Vikas Mushroom Farm at Solan) in Himachal, which figure nationally. They produce 4,500 tonnes of mushroom per annum and have also encouraged others to take up its cultivation. Thus the potential of the crop needs to be exploited. 

Perfect food for diabetics

It is considered a perfect food for diabetics, which helps in preventing constipation and obesity. At a time when the government is trying to double the farmers’ income by 2022 its cultivation can receive a major boost if the problems of growers are suitably addressed. 

High energy costs reduce profits
 
Our farmers will be productive if their problems are sorted out. High energy costs reduce profitability. Thus lowering energy use through diversification will be helpful in mushroom cultivation. One kilogram of mushroom grown in Himachal is sold for Rs 60 to Rs 70 while the same quantity from Haryana is sold for Rs 40 in our state. Thus, Haryana farmers find an ideal market for their produce in Himachal. — VP Sharma, Director, DMR, Chambaghat, Solan

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