Status and problems of mushroom cultivation in Punjab

Abstract

Integrated farming system incorporating mushroom farming as the key activity for rural farmers has the potential to solve almost all the problems, which the farmers are currently facing. Also the farmers’ family will be getting a nutritious and delicious food like mushroom at their door step, which would help to improve the nutritional security of rural India. It was found that majority of the respondents had educational qualification up to matric, operating on 5-10 acres of land (64.44%), have nuclear family (67.78%), family size up to five members (52.25%), adopted mushroom cultivation as a main occupation (63%), obtained information from friends about mushroom cultivation (47.78%), had total production 100-350 qts/acre in a year (46.67%), annual income upto Rs. 6,00,000/acre (62.22%).  Majority of the respondents (46.67%) had taken medium price (Rs 80-90/kg) of mushroom, had high mass media exposure (38.89%), low risk bearing capacity (57.78%) and medium scientific orientation (53.33%). Regarding experience in mushroom cultivation majority of the farmers (43.33%) had experience of 7-14 years of mushroom cultivation. More than 100 sq. mts area under cultivated mushroom at commercial scale. It was observed that majority of the respondents (61.11%) started mushroom unit above 150 trays/poly bags and at present majority of respondents (52.22%) have mushroom unit in 500-1000 trays/poly bags. Majority of the respondents faced marketing problem as there was no fix price for selling mushroom.