Mushroom – Jharkhand Tribal Development Society

Oyster Mushroom

A mushroom is one of the many species of fungi. It is somewhat like the fruit of a plant. Mushroom consumption and cultivation has been vogue for almost 200 years. However commercial mushroom farming in India has started recently. Growing mushroom under controlled environment now becomes culture. Its popularity is growing and it has become a business which is export oriented. Today 20 different species of mushroom are commercially cultivated around the world. In India Mushroom cultivation has been taken up in states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana.

In Jharkhand, naturally grown Mushrooms are also consumed widely by the local people. However, due to the short period of availability of naturally growing mushrooms, their commercial cultivation has lots of potential in the state. More than 84% of the farmers in the state are small & marginal farmers and Oyster Mushroom Cultivation could help to ensure additional income by the utilization of available resources like paddy straw.

Keeping this in mind, the Farming System Research Centre for Hill and Plateau Region, Ranchi (FSRCHPR) of ICAR-RCER carried out the technology demonstration on Oyster Mushroom Cultivation under the DBT Biotech KISAN Hub Project in three Villages – Sarwal, Hahap and Koiribera located at 18 to 23 Kms from Ranchi, Jharkhand.

At the beginning of the project during 2019, the average agricultural income of the farmers in the Project Villages was Rs. 1.7 Lakh per Year. The assessment of availability of paddy straw indicated that nearly 38% of the total paddy straw produced in the farming systems remains unutilized. The prevailing food consumption pattern of the farm families indicated cereal dominated diet with acute deficiency of pulses, vegetables, oil seeds and animal proteins.

After undergoing the training on Oyster Mushroom Cultivation at the ICAR-RCER, FSRCHPR, Ranchi, Jharkhand, a total of 57 farmers from Sarwal Village started the Oyster Mushroom Cultivation during 2019. During this period, the biological efficiency ranged between 76.4% to 85.3% with a total production of 3081 Kg of Oyster Mushroom. The farmers could generate a total income of Rs. 3,96,720/- with an average Benefit: Cost Ratio of 3.8 by selling their produce in the local market for Rs. 120 to Rs. 150 per Kg.

Impact on health

Oyster mushrooms have significant antioxidant properties that protect cells in the body.
It has significant antibacterial activity that reduces bacterial levels into the body.
It maintain the levels of blood sugar due to presence of calcium and vitamin D in mushroom
Vitamin B3 assists in the reduction of skin inflammation, redness and irritation.
Copper which is found in mushroom, it has an impact on the brain health. Which helps to maintain the energy, mood.
Vitamin D, phosphorus and calcium helps to form and maintain the dental health by assisting or holding the teeth and tooth.
adequate amount of iron to maintain a positive mood, the deficiency of iron leads to bad sleep, poor mood, lack of motivation and low level of energy.
Vitamin B1 present in mushroom that converts the carbohydrate into glucose which is used as a fuel to produce energy.

Step Towards Slef Reliance……………

This is Beronika Bakhla from Sirka village of Ghunsuli Panchayat of Karra Block in Khunti District. She worked as Community Resource Person in the village for ongoing activities under JTELP. She is one of the 20 beneficiaries selected in village for Mushroom Cultivation in the year 2021-22. All beneficiaries received 2 days training on Mushroom cultivation by hired agency named APP Aggregate.

After training, each beneficiary received 20 bags along with paddy straw and seeds for Mushroom Cultivation. She has done the entire process learnt during training for Mushroom. The production would start after 25 days of installation the bag properly. As estimated, production from each bag is 3-3.5 Kg.

As Beronika Says, Beneficiaries of Mushroom cultivation in the village are very happy as they have learnt a different Non – farm activity as secondary source of livelihood. Production of Mushroom Cultivation would add additional income for the family.Many members of the group have also started the value-addition to the fresh Mushroom produced by them. The different processed products like Dried Mushroom, Mushroom Powder and Pickles are being prepared by them. A sizable amount of the processed products are being marketed in the local market, while a part of the dehydrated products are being consumed in the farm families.