Tamil Nadu Agricultural University’s Department of Plant Pathology organized One day training programme on "Spawn production and Mushroom Cultivation" to the Scheduled caste youth beneficiaries on 25.08.2023, through the financial support of All India Coordinated Mushroom Improvement Project of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. Hundred beneficiaries of Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore participated in the training.
The programme was presided by Dr.V.Geethalakshmi, Vice-Chancellor of TNAU who appreciated the youth for undertaking the training progarmme on mushroom cultivation and stressed on the significance of mushroom cultivation as a hitech horticulture venture that would provide more income per unit area due to vertical space utilisation and pave for the socioeconomic livelihood of the farming community. She also added that a large portion of agro residues is being burnt and creates environment pollution however this could be solved by recycling of agroresidues in to proteinaceus food the mushrooms. She also pointed out that students will gain confidence and earn when they take up this type of venture while they learn.
The Vice Chancellor added that mushroom cultivation is best suited as a component in Integrated Farming system for additional income to farmers.
Dr.M.Shanthi, Director, Centre for Plant Protection Studies in her special address emphasised the importance of mushroom production towards health owing to the presence of protein, fibre, Vitamin B, amino acids and selenium in mushrooms as an immune modulator. She also mentioned that TNAU would extend necessary technical support for the upcoming entrepreuners so as to create self employment opportunities among youngsters.
Dr.M.Balasubramaniam, Director (ODL) pointed out that mushroom venture has to be taken initially as a small project and after thorough study of financial stability the project expansion would create sustainability.
Dr.G.Karthikeyan, Professor and Head pointed out that ICAR through AICRP in addition to research activities on mushrooms, is interested in promoting mushroom cultivation as an extension activity for solving the protein malnutrition and unemployment in the country and the Department of Plant Pathology is taking great efforts to conduct many such training programmes.
Dr.G.Thiribhuvanamala, Professor and scheme officer of the project provided detailed demonstrations and hands on training to the beneficiaries on production of spawn and oyster mushroom, intercropping of paddy straw mushroom cultivation and value addition of mushrooms. The beneficiaries were provided with the essential input materials at free of cost required for mushroom production.