Farmers learn mushroom cultivation

A training programme on Shiitake mushroom production was organised from September 6 to 11 at the Shiitake Mushroom Training Centre in Palampur through the Crop Diversification Promotion Project under the aegis of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Farmers were given information about post-harvest management from September 12 to 13, according to Shitake Disseminator Sapan Thakur. District Project Manager Yogendra Kaudhal, in a press release, said Shiitake mushrooms were a popular type of mushrooms with origins in East Asian countries.

He said, in recent years, Shiitake mushroom cultivation had become popular due to its urban consumer demand. Lentinan, a bioactive compound extracted from Shiitake mushrooms, had been confirmed to have several anti-tumour properties and was reported to have medicinal applications in various cancer treatments, he added.

Twenty-two farmers of the Riduan Kuhal cluster (Dharamsala block) participated in the camp.