Mushroom cultivation training program:
Funder: Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology
Year: 2022- 2023
Key highlight:
Capacity Building through Hands-on Training
- Practical workshops on oyster, button, and milky mushroom
- Step-by-step guidance on substrate preparation, spawn inoculation, humidity & temperature control, and harvesting.
- Focus on low-cost, locally adaptable cultivation techniques for hill regions.
Livelihood Promotion & Entrepreneurship
- Targeted support for Self-Help Groups (SHGs), rural women, and unemployed youth.
- Guidance on cost-benefit analysis, packaging, branding, and market linkages.
- Promotion of home-based units for sustainable income generation.
Value Addition & Post-Harvest Management
- Training on drying, pickling, and powder making from mushrooms to increase shelf-life.
- Awareness on nutritional benefits and opportunities in niche markets.
Scientific & Sustainable Practices
- Introduction to eco-friendly cultivation using agro-waste like paddy straw, sawdust, and maize stalks.
- Emphasis on disease management and maintaining hygiene in production units.
Community Outreach & Impact
- Benefitted dozens of rural households by creating alternative income sources.
- Encouraged women-led enterprises in mushroom production and processing.
- Contributed to nutritional security and waste-to-wealth initiatives in Uttarakhand.