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Himachal Pradesh  being a hilly state, 80% of the population lives in villages and depends upon agriculture. The land holdings are small and the farmers are generally small, marginal and agricultural labourers. Most of the farmers are not getting good returns from agriculture and want to adopt other agriculture related activities to enhance their income. Hence adoption of  Dairy farming, sericulture, fishery, floriculture,  Mushroom and Bee-keeping avocations are the need of the hours. 
             Among the hilly states of the country Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a leading state planning and implementation of strategies for optimum utilization of the marginalities of the hills. It is now well accepted that the state has made significant development in the field of agriculture and horticulture and now  the farming systems of the state are again showing a prominent change with the incorporation of diversified commercial crops like vegetables, floriculture, mushroom, bee-keeping etc. The state provides congenial agro-climatic condition as well as market advantages for mushroom cultivation as mushroom fulfill the nutrition at requirement of the vegetarian people.
                                    Mushroom cultivation requires no land and can be grown in the houses / small huts and . Mushroom cultivation is taken up period of the year when generally the farmers have less field work crops operation having short crop duration and no marketing problem. Thus crop is of a short cultivation and does not have marketing problem for its disposal.  

Intervention and process:                                                                  Back toTop

                Kangra valley, having sub tropical climate is very suitable for cultivation  button Mushroom and paddy straw mushroom cultivation especially button Mushroom is  getting more popularity. The land holding of farmers  of  the Kangra Distt., is very small where as  mushroom cultivation requirs no land and it can be grown successfully in their houses in of three months short duration. Generally the farmers were growing mushroom in scattered  form and were not getting good returns. The extension agencies /field functionaries  were also facing a problem to supervise / disseminate the latest technology to them.  Moreover some of the  mushroom growers were not getting technical guidance immediately on the occurrence of diseases and other  problem like algae and nematode and insects.

              With the inception of ATMA Project in the Kangra Distt. During the 1st year (2001) ATMA has organized 5 trainings camps regarding adoption of this income generating avocation and formation of groups for its cultivation and marketing. Two exposure visits were also conducted to the success story sites of interested farmers. Thus this activity was undertaken in five WIGs/FIGs unemployed youth.Smt. Sunita from Dictoo and Sh. Kashmir Singh from Hatwas of Nagrota Bagwan block, Smt. Rita Devi from Bir of Baijnath block and Parshottam Singh from Bindraban of Bhawarna block were instrumental to adopt and disseminate this intervention in the adjoining areas/ groups the farmers earned an income of Rs. 25000-30000 from 2 crops of 100 bags unit.25

                During the 2nd year 7 awareness training camps were organized in which 140 farmers were trained regarding  formation of groups, cultivation and marketing of mushroom. 5 exposure visits were also conducted to the success story sites  Bir, Dictoo, Rajpur, Indo dutch mushroom Project /agriculture university palampur and ZRS Jachh for interaction, sharing of experiences for adoption of this avocation. During 3rd year, due to awareness about mushrooms cultivation among the farmers in different AES in the districts and as a result 192 unemployed youth, FIGs/WIGs , Mahila Mandals came forward to adopt  this mushroom cultivation. The Indo-Dutch mushroom Project Palampur, KVK Kangra and ZRS Jachh are engaged in providing this vocational training under ATMA and with this 192 unemployed youths/ WIGs and FIGs have started this avocation in their homes and are generating additional Income. Well prepared compost and quality of mushroom culture  was  provided to them by Indo-Dutch Mushroom Project,  department of Horticulture Palampur and some farmers have started their own compost production units on small scale after getting technology from Indo-Dutch Mushroom Project Palampur, KVK Kangra and ZRS Jachh through ATMA. Some of  the FIGs/WIGs/ unemployed youth taking 2 crops of button mushroom and 1 crops of Dhingri – paddy straw mushroom and getting Rs.50000-60000 annually.

                                Presently  this activity is being carried out in  50 FIGs/WIGs and there by benefiting more than 700 farmers.

Benefits                                                                                               Back toTop

 ·         Farmers, farm women and unemployed youth are undertaking this activity and earning handsome income ranging from Rs. 25000-30000 from 2 crops of 100 bags units annually apart from their agriculture and horticulture traditional activities.

·         Many young farmers, unemployed youths, mahila mandals and farm women have adopted this activity as a profession and getting an income worth Rs. 50000-60000 from button mushroom &  Dhingri crops.

·         Technical know how is being imparted by horticulture department, KVK and ZRS regularly.

·         Compost is supplied by department of horticulture, private units and even some of the farmers themselves preparing compost at their own level.

Lesson Learned                                                                               Back toTop

1.  The problem of the unemployment for rural youth and others could be solved up to some extent by involving the unemployed youth in Mushroom cultivation  avocation.

2. Compost production by long method at farmers field can definitely increase the adoption rate of mushroom cultivation.

3. The Mushroom can successfully be grown in small houses and require no land.

4. Mushroom cultivation does not require full time labour and family members can look after the different operations easily

5. Domestic market is readily available for sale of mushroom hence no risk  is involved.

Replication Process                                                                          Back toTop

                Farmers started taking two crops in a year and getting income worth Rs. 25000 to 30000 in addition to other enterprises. This activity is presently being undertaken by 50 FIGs there by involving more than 700 farmers. In this way  demand of compost was increased many fold and is the interested growers approached the Govt. as well as local leaders for the installation of more compost unit. The Govt. started one big compost production unit at Baijnath in the district and 3 to 4 farmers have also started their own compost  units in small scale in private sector at Baiindorian, Bir, Dictoo and Jadrangal. This avocation was started by unemployed youth, FIGs/WIGs on a large scale under the technical guidance of the BTTs, horticulture department, KVK and ZRS under ATMA, and are getting more income. Many banks have also came forward to provide a loan to mushroom growers and approaching ATMA Project regularly for sponsoring more cases at present 700 farmers are engaged the mushroom and earning a good income.

Case Study                                                                                         Back toTop

 Initiation:

Ø    Awareness was created among in the farmers, unemployed youth/farm women to adopt this avocation through groups, which will help in cultivation as well as profitable marketing.

Ø   Exposure visits of mushroom growers were conducted to success story sites regarding sharing of experiences of mushroom cultivation in groups and marketing.

Ø       Demonstration on compost making at village were also conducted for FIGs/SHGs.

Ø     Training on value addition were also imparted to professional mushroom growers for getting higher returns in the market.

Current Situation:

Ø       50 FIGs/WIGs on mushroom cultivation have been formed.

Ø   More than 700 farmers /farm women/unemployed youth and mahila mandal members are involved in this activity and there by employment problem has been reduced up to some extent.

Ø      2 Govt. project and four private units are engaged in production and supply of compost to the mushroom growers.

Ø       More than 150 farmers have started paddy straw mushroom (Dhingri) cultivation.

Ø      On an average income worth Rs. 25000-30000 is taken by the mushroom growers in addition to his agricultural/horticultural activity.

Ø     Mushroom growers farmers are earning Rs. 50000-60000 per annum who have adopted this activity as a profession.  

Future Implication                                                                               Back toTop

Ø      More awareness and adoption amongst the farmers /unemployed youths should be created by organizing more nos. of training camps to adopt this avocation and to reduce the unemployment upto some extent.

Ø     More compost units should be established in public & private sector to meet with the compost requirement of the mushroom growers.

Ø       More training on value addition, packing and marketing should be imparted.

Ø     Concerted and collaborative effects of all concerned stakeholders of mushroom are to made for managing the extension & replicate then activity on sustainable basis on a large scale.