Ranchi: For families belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) and other Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories living in remote areas of Simdega district and dependent on forest produce, livestock rearing, and other rural activities, mushroom cultivation is emerging as a new livelihood option to generate an additional source of income closer home.More than 30 farmers participated in a training programme held from September 8 to 12 at Gadiyajor in Kurdeg block. The programme followed a similar five-day training at Diyapathal in Simdega from September 3 to 7.Simdega district agriculture officer Madhuri Toppo said, “The objective was to equip tribal farmers with technical knowledge and encourage them to take up mushroom production as a self-employment activity.”Nikhat Parween, assistant director of the Ranchi-based horticulture directorate, said, “The farmers received intensive training in mushroom production and were provided with production kits containing spawn so that they could begin cultivation.”Simdega agriculture inspector Samu Sahu said, “We went to the remote jungle areas to train them. People, especially women, were excited and hopeful that they would earn handsome resturns by cultivating mushrooms. Their response, happiness and enthusiasm gave us hope that such programmes would help people in uplifting their livelihood besides increasing their incomes.”The sessions covered selection of mushroom varieties, use of spawn, preparation of production units, temperature and moisture management, disease and pest control, harvesting, maintenance and marketing. Farmers were also given practical demonstrations so they could replicate the process at home.
