74 trained in mushroom cultivation

Making continued efforts to make the agricultural community’s future financially secure, the Skill Development Centre of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) provided a five-day hand-holding in ‘winter season mushroom cultivation’ under the guidance of Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education.

A total of 74 farmers, rural women and youths from 14 districts of the state participated in the training programme, held in association with the Department of Microbiology, PAU.

Addressing the participants, Dr Bhullar described the subsidiary occupation of mushroom cultivation as a profitable agri-business, requiring low investment and less space. Farmers and even unemployed youths should avail the benefits of training programmes being offered at the PAU, he advised the trainees.

Dr Rupinder Kaur, Associate Director (Skill Development), observed that sustainability in terms of livelihood and income was must at present times. Mushroom growing was a viable option in contemporary times, especially when country was staring at massive lay-offs, she pointed out.

Dr Kulvir Kaur and Dr Lavleesh Garg, course coordinators, shared the success stories of the entrepreneurs who were receiving good income from year-round mushroom cultivation.

Technical coordinator Dr Shivani Sharma, and Dr Jaspreet Kaur elaborated on the successful cultivation of paddy straw, milky, dhingri and Shiitake mushrooms.