Centre for Mushroom Research and Training

Department of Plant Pathology, CSKHPKV, Palampur

Mushroom Centre

Training in progress

Trainees on concluding day

New strain of oyster mushroom A progressive women grower

Trainees from Lahaul Valley

Hands on training to students

White Button Mushroom

Demonstration of pickling

Visit of Honble Vice-Chancellor Visit of Honble Agri.Secretary

Programme Director: Dr.B.M.Sharma

About the Centre:
As a result of the efforts of the scientists of CSK HPKV, mushroom cultivation is becoming increasingly popular. It has largely been possible due to continuous training programme and establishment of a modern Mushroom Spawn Laboratory at CSK HPKV, Palampur. Recently the university has created a Centre for Mushroom Research and Training which now has the facilities of imparting training in mushroom growing, spawn and compost production and cropping rooms for growing mushrooms. These facilities will go a long way in strengthening the mushroom production which can assume the shape of commercial as well as domestic industry in this part of the state. Training of Human Resource: There is an urgent need to train people in mushroom production so that they are able to take up this venture on commercial basis for self employment and also as a family enterprise. The university has well-established technology on mushroom cultivation and continuously refining it. The university is regularly organizing training camps. As many as 2100 persons have been given training in Mushroom Cultivation. Of these, more than 600 are registered growers and around 250 are effectively involved in this activity. Through Experiential learning/Hands on training, the passing out Agricultural graduates are being empowered with the necessary entrepreneurial skills to set up mushroom growing units as a self employment activity. The trained personnel are being guided to set up their own mushroom production unit. Subsequently, the growers are motivated to organize themselves in mushroom growers groups /societies /self help groups so that they are able to tackle various problems on collective basis. A constant rapport is maintained with the growers for

monitoring the production pattern and guidance in management and marketing. This effort apart from a source of supplementing the income of the families will also generate employment for a large number of people of the area. This centre will go a long way in spreading this venture, which is bound to pay rich dividends.
Spawn Production:

The centre has a Modern Mushroom Spawn Laboratory and quality spawn of three cultivated species viz. Button mushroom, Oyster mushroom and Milky mushroom is being made available to the growers of the area. As a result of regular training programme and availability of inputs in the form of spawn etc., there has been increased interest in the production of mushrooms in the area. During the year 2002-03, 2505 kg of mushroom spawn was made available to the growers whereas during 2008-09, 6000 kg of spawn was sold to the farmers. Compost Production A Pasteurized Compost Unit has also been established at this centre which has the capacity to produce about 230-240 tons of ready to spawn compost in a year. It will enable the university to produce 20-22 tons ready to spawn compost in one lot, within a period of 2022 days. About 10-12 such lots will be prepared in a year. The compost produced at the Unit will be sold to potential trained growers and would yield 35-40 tons of fresh mushrooms at the growers level. Mushroom Growing The centre has two cropping rooms with complete environment control facility and capacity to hold 20 tons compost for growing white button mushroom. This facility will enable us to produce fresh mushrooms throughout the year and also conducting research on various aspects. Objectives The proposed centre aims at fulfilling the following goals and objectives.

Refinement in mushroom cultivation technology To enhance the entrepreneurial skills of Agricultural graduates and impart hands on/Experiential training

To impart vocational training to the prospective growers; and to provide forward and backward linkages by extending technical knowledge and guidance.

Expected Output The activities through this centre will promote mushroom cultivation among Agricultural graduates, unemployed youth and farm folks as an important agro-based enterprise, will help in self employment and boost the cultivation in different areas of the state, thereby improving the living standard of marginal farmers/landless workers particularly farm women as well as act as a source of rural employment to the educated but unemployed youth.