There is a high demand for mushrooms as a healthy food source with strong market potential, and therefore, more farmers are switching to mushroom cultivation. Mushrooms are nutrient-rich products that can be quite conveniently cultivated, thereby readily suitable for both small-scale and large-scale farming.
Let’s learn more about mushroom farming in India, the types of mushrooms grown, the process involved, and government initiatives that support farmers.
Why Mushroom Farming?
Mushrooms are useful in many ways and make them a favourite crop among modern farmers:
High Nutritional Value
Mushrooms contain proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which have contributed to an increase in demand from the food sector.
Quick Returns: Mushrooms take relatively less time to mature than other commercial crops. Thus, farmers can harvest quicker returns from this crop and thus turn out faster returns.
Low Space Requirement
Mushroom farming does not require large fields. Farmers can easily grow them in controlled environments such as sheds, bags, or specially designed rooms.
Climate Resilience
Mushrooms can be grown in controlled environments, so the scenario in which the farmers may depend wholly on external weather for cultivation is avoided, and the product is cultivated throughout the year.
Common Types of Mushrooms Cultivated in India
In India, most of the farmers generally cultivate the following types of mushrooms:
Button Mushroom
This is the most commonly cultivated mushroom in India and is highly sought after because it has a mild flavour and an extensive culinary application. There has been an enormous rise in the demand for button mushrooms, making the crop highly lucrative for farmers.
Oyster Mushroom
This variety has a very distinct flavour, and some are very meaty. They grow pretty easily and are not as demanding to maintain as button mushrooms. One can cultivate them in almost any condition, making them suitable for beginners, too.
Milky Mushroom
Milky mushrooms develop well in warm and humid climate conditions. This variety is mainly suited for large-scale cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions of India. It has become increasingly popular because of its good shelf life and flexibility.
Shiitake Mushroom
Though not as widely grown as other varieties, shiitake mushrooms are highly prized in gourmet markets for their savoury flavour and medicinal properties.
Cultivation Process of Mushroom
Growing mushrooms may appear to be a complicated process, but it is possible to stage the whole thing in small steps:
Soil Preparation
The substrate refers to the medium through which the mushrooms grow. It is one of the common substrates used in this type of farming. These include straw, sawdust, and manure. It is essential to pasteurize or sterilize the substrate so that all the pathogens present may be eliminated. Pasteurization can be performed either by steaming or boiling the substrates.
Inoculation
Mushroom spores or spawn are added to the substrate prepared earlier. The substrate could be mixed with spawn, which shall act as a nutrient base. It is placed in growing bags or trays.
Inoculation
The substrate with mushrooms is placed within a controlled environment characterized by appropriate temperatures, humidity, and light levels. At this point, the mushrooms begin growing and colonizing the substrate.
Fruiting
The substrate is fully colonized, and conditions are modulated to simulate fruiting. Mushrooms begin sprouting from the substrate and grow rapidly. Temperature and humidity checks occur at regular intervals for maximum growth.
Harvesting
Mushrooms generally take a few weeks to mature before they will be ready for harvest, depending on what variety one is growing. On maturity, they should be handpicked with a high level of care to avoid spore damage.
Government Initiatives for Mushroom Cultivation
In recent years, Indian governments have realized the potential of mushroom cultivation and implemented several schemes and programs to support farmers.
The government also provides subsidization and financial assistance to farmers who grow mushrooms under different agricultural development schemes. Tractor finance and other farm mechanization loans are also available to increase cultivation and enable farmers to obtain machinery equipment.
Future of Mushroom Farming in India
Mushrooms are a high-return productive farm. Growing product demand and increasing consumer tastes can unlock huge opportunities for expansion. With proper training investment and support from the government and the private sector, mushroom farming can provide sustainable income to both small-scale and commercial farmers.
This demand has also fueled the increasing consumption of mushrooms as a health-conscious diet, thus making this crop lucrative. With mushroom demand increasing, farmers adopting modern machines such as the Sonalika Tractor can help achieve high yields.
Conclusion
Mushroom farming in India provides farmers with the chance to diversify income-generating activities and penetrate the growing market. When well planned and supported with good equipment investment and techniques of mushroom cultivation, mushroom farming can be a real source of gain. The availability of government schemes such as Tractor Loan and up-to-date tractors like Sonalika Tractor also facilitates better production, thus enabling farmers to expand and increase productivity.
Some farmers successfully undertake mushroom farming following the best available practices and resource inputs, contributing to the Indian agricultural economy.
