FARMERS SHOULD ADOPT MUSHROOM GROWING FOR NUTRITION AND PROFIT: DR BRAR

LUDHIANA, JANUARY 22…..



Farmers' profitability can be augmented by motivating them to adopt subsidiary occupations such as mushroom growing. This was stated by the Punjab Director of Horticulture, Dr L. S. Brar at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Dr Brar was here at PAU to formally inaugurate the Integrated Mushroom Unit established under National Horticulture Mission (NHM). He said that the facilities established at PAU under the said project could now provide further fillip to mushroom production in Punjab. He observed that the interested entrepreneurs could now easily adopt mushroom growing as an auxiliary occupation besides their routine agriculture.

Dr Brar was accompanied by Joint Director of Horticulture, Punjab, Dr Gurkanwal Singh and other officials of his department. Prominent among other dignitaries were Dr. M.S. Gill, Director of Extension Education, Dr R.S. Sidhu, Dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Dr P.K. Khanna, Additional Director of Research (Food Science, Nutrition and Engineering), Dr J.S. Dhiman, Additional Director of Research (Natural Resource and Plant Health Management) and heads of various departments of PAU. The experts interacted with the mushroom scientists of PAU who showed them the various facilities including Phase I and Phase II of composting, pasteurized tunnels, aerated bunker system, spawn production unit having sterilization facilities, inoculation and incubation chambers, machinery, equipments, etc. The facilities for imparting training to the farmers and the entrepreneurs in mushroom growing were also shown.

Dr. M.S. Gill, in his remarks, highlighted the importance of the project and added that the Unit will provide ready-made spawned compost not only for the farmers but also for the urban/peri urban families. He noted that the production of mushrooms in each household would provide fresh mushrooms for the families. The concept would be further extended through the KVK's operating in the different districts of the state, said Dr Gill.

Dr. P.K. Khanna gave an overview of the project under which the state-of-the-art facilities in the integrated mushroom unit have been generated. He highlighted the programmes envisioned under the project. The growing of mushrooms will cater to the nutritional security of the people, he stated, adding that the purpose of providing critical inputs for making mushroom growing a household activity in the state will be achieved in due course.

Earlier Dr. S. Kapoor, Senior Mycologist, PAU, welcomed the dignitaries and the team of scientists to the Mushroom Complex.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com