Farmers learn mushroom cultivation at a festival in Himachal

Chambaghat (HP), Sep 11 (ANI): Over 600 farmers from across the country learned about mushroom growing and marketing in a one day festival held at Chambaghat in Himachal Pradesh.he Directorate of Mushroom Research (DMR) had organised the fair at Chambaghat in Solan district where farmers from 14 states, including Sikkim, Jharkhand and southern Tamil Nadu, had taken part.

The primary aim of the fair was to disseminate the latest information and data acquired at the research centre and promote mushroom farming as a business crop. The research centre has developed new varieties of mushrooms including, Austere, Adistra and Shiitake.

Manjeet Singh, Director, the Directorate of Mushroom Research, said such fairs are important to bring mushroom growers at one platform and equip them with the latest development taking in the field.

"I think when you go to such fairs you get a chance to directly interact with experts and scientists and secondly you interact with other mushroom growers who are into this business and both these interactions are very important for starting or proliferating into mushroom production business," Manjeet Singh added.

Farmers said such should be organised more often and in various places.

"Such fairs are very important for us because farmers, scientists and experts come here from different states and exchange their information. They learn about mushroom growing and marketing and find solutions to related problems," said Basant Kumar Gupta, a mushroom farmer.

Farmers were seen interested in learning about cultivating Ganoderma mushroom variety, which is known for its medicinal properties.

The fair which has been organised for the past 15 years has popularised and motivated farmers to grow mushrooms. (ANI)