PASIGHAT, Dec 23: Mushroom growers participated in the celebration of the National Mushroom Day at the College of Horticulture & Forestry (CHF) here in East Siang district on Monday.
The nutritional values of mushroom and the need of mushroom cultivation were highlighted by CHF Dean Prof BN Hazarika and CHF Plant Protection Head Prof DB Ahuja.
The All India Coordinated Research Project on Mushroom’s Principal Investigator, Dr RC Shakywar, emphasized “the need to create more awareness among the farming community on the need and importance of mushroom cultivation in the district.”
He informed the farmers about the spawn production unit in his department, and the initiatives taken up by the ICAR’s Solan (Himachal Pradesh)-based mushroom research directorate for promotion of mushroom cultivation.
East Siang KVK Head, Dr Eloni Vida, briefed the gathering on the mushroom extension activities taken up by the KVK and the CHF.
Dr Vida advised the farmers to use quality spawn and proven technologies for mushroom cultivation.
A farmer-scientist interaction session was also organised, during which the KVK’s plant protection scientist educated the farmers on insect pest and disease management.
Progressive mushroom growers Oti Sitang Eko (from Mirbuk) and Titil Perme (from Rani) highlighted the issue of contamination of spawn during inoculation, and requested the scientists to suggest suitable remedy to the problem.
The farmers shared their views on mushroom production for nutritional security and higher economic returns.
Mushroom spawns were distributed among the farmers. Mushroom growers from Mirbuk, GTC, Rani, Rayeng, Bodak, and Jarkong attended the programme.
