Mushroom can be a 'good business' for the poor
They can easily earn at least Tk 3000 per month by cultivating mushroom on homesteads and at small houses.
But this needs government attention to promote its cultivation and export of this nutritious vegetable of high medicinal value.
The Kewatkhali Horticulture Centre (KHC) of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has done a commendable job by promoting its cultivation by farmers but they lack resources.
It can be turned into a good business for marginal and landless farmers if government support is available, its officials told this correspondent.
According to KHC sources, about 50 lakh tonnes of mushroom are produced in the world annually. China alone produces seven lakh tonnes.
Its cultivation started in the district in October 2002 at the KHC under a project titled Integrated Horticulture and Nutrition Development Project, run by the DAE.
DAE motivation worked reasonably well. Many farmers are now growing mushroom as a cash crop, they said.
Some 500 farmers in Sadar upazila and 200 in Iswarganj upazila of Mymensingh district and another about 100 in Madhupur upazila of Tangail are now engaged in mushroom cultivation.
To expand this cultivation, KHC has provided training to 300 farmers in 50 groups from Parail, Horipur, Bhawanipur and Anandipur villages of Sadar upazila, KHC sources said. Training to other farmers will be undertaken soon, they said.
Earlier, KHC used to bring 'mother seed' from Savar Horticulture Centre and multiply it for growers at its own laboratory through tissue culture and applying special technology. Now KHC is growing mushroom seeds for growers.
According to sources, there are over 100 varieties of mushroom in the world and over 100 countries grow it commercially.
Seven tropical varieties are cultivated in our country as these are suitable in the weather condition. These are Oyster, Milky, Wood Ear, Shitake, Paddy Straw and two varieties of Button mushroom, one of them heat tolerant.
Mushroom cultivation is very easy and production cost if very low, according to Assistant Horticulturist Abu Md Enayet Ullah at KHC.
The greatest advantage for small, landless and marginal farmers is that mushroom cultivation does not need any land. It can be grown at the homestead or at the dwelling house.
Enayet Ullah said at least five kilograms of mushroon can be harvested from a very small space every day, which is sold at Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg.
Tropical and sub-tropical varieties of mushroom can be cultivated in a room or in a polythene-made tunnel in a neat and clean environment throughout the year.
Polybag technology is easy. Mushroom seeds are mixed with saw dust, wheat bar, straw, lime and water and kept in polybags. These are called polybag packets. These packets are kept in a 'cultivation shed'. These germinate in 10-15 days and mushroom starts growing.
As mushroom is fast-growing, it can be harvested in 25 days in rainy season and within a moth in winter season, they said
Mushroom can be eaten as 'mushroom soup, 'mushroom fry, mushroom pickle and with chicken and sandwitch.
Mushroom also helps growth of disease resistance power in human body, according to doctors and researchers.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. But consumption of mushroom as a food item is yet to grow among people because it is a non-traditional item.
Mushroom is more nutritious than potato. One hundred grams dried mushroom contain 26.9 per cent protein while the same quantity potato contain 7.6 grams protein. Mushroom can be preserved three to six months after drying it in the sunlight.
Mushroom was treated as a medicinal plant in ancient periods. In many countries, researchers now use it to combat cancer, hypertension, blood pressure, diabetics, heart disease, rheumatic pain, throat inflammation and to control blood cholesterol.
Though mushroom cholesterol-free and contains much-needed fatty acid. It is easily digestible and so a good food for patients, according to doctors.
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