Oyster mushroom cultivation training concludes

Our Correspondent
Kohima Oct. 16 (EMN): The two-day training in oyster mushroom with low cost infrastructure, culminated on Tuesday at the directorate of Horticulture in Kohima.
The deputy director of the Horticulture department, Meyisashi, who was the resource person at the training event, said that growing mushroom was an income-generating activity. The officer remarked that ‘no other business would give the farmers a higher income within a month.’ He expressed appreciation that 70% of the young trainees at the workshop were women.

Meyisashi called upon the farmers to avail the opportunity and learn the various methods that goes into mushroom cultivation as a means for sustaining livelihood. Besides, mushroom has many health benefits, he told the gathering.

He reminded that government can only give assistance in terms of materials and training but the farmers should sustain cultivation efforts with the profits they earn from the seed and materials provided by the department.

On the aspect of production, he said mushroom is most suitable for hilly regions but it also depends on the cultivators to take it to the next level to make it successful.

During the practical session, he gave a power point presentation on production of mushroom and management; design of infrastructure and after care and the methods involved in cultivation.

The officer said that edible mushroom has found a niche among small scale farmers in Nagaland. “Previously they were picked from the wild, but now, many farmers are growing mushrooms for their nutritive value as well as medicinal purposes,” he said.

He said the oyster type of mushrooms is cultivated in Nagaland because it can fruit over a wide range of temperatures. He said it offers lucrative business, requires no arable land for production, and provides diversification with benefits such as increased income, employment, food and nutrition security.

The two-day long training was imparted to 204 farmers from 11 districts, and Tseyminyu sub-division.
Spawn and equipment for oyster mushroom was distributed during the programme too.