Hopes lose way in marketing snags

Mushroom produced are being store at a house in Rangamagi, awaiting marketing. PHOTO: STAR

Its commercial production had expanded rapidly both in urban areas and in distant hillocks in the district but the enthusiasm among the growers is fading but the government agency concerned is unconcerned, many of the growers alleged while talking to this correspondent recently.

Over the years after launch of a project by the Parbattya Chattagram Mushroom Chash Prokolpa five years ago, consumption of the highly nutritious food with medicinal value also increased, creating a local market.

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"Most of the growers now produce mushroom only to meet family demands", said Sazal Barua, a trainer working under the project.

They no more grow mushroom on commercial basis because of lack of marketing facilities. The training project is at Asambosti in Rangamati town.

A total of 27450 people were given training on mushroom cultivation under the project in last five years.

The project was undertaken by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) to encourage hill people, particularly the ultra poor and unemployed ones to grow mushroom for self-employment.

This created much enthusiasm among unemployed youths as they saw in it as a way to change their life. But lack of marketing facilities has marred the prospect, he said.

Mushroom growing is highly profitable business. Only around Tk 20 is spent to produce one kilogram of mushroom, which can be easily sold at between Tk 80 and Tk 100, Sazal Barua said. The youths were attracted because it involved virtually no capital and extra space. It can be grown at a corner of a house or at a small cottage.

Mushroom has high demands in big cities in Bangladesh and abroad because of its multiple food value. It is full of minerals and cancer resistant ingredients but negligible fat, said Assistant Horticulturist Ikbal Hossain.

Mushroom soup is a popular food in the Western countries. It is also used in preparing varieties of delicious dishes.

"As it is holds high demand in Dhaka, Chittagong and even among indigenous people in CHT, unemployed people could easily create self-employment and reduce poverty," said Fasiul Alam, Director of the project.

A small investment in marketing could easily meet the demand of about 5000 foreigners living in Dhaka and Chittagong who love to have mushroom dishes in their menu almost every day, he said.

He suggested that investors can set up storage facilities in Rangamati town to preserve it and then supply to cities.

This small initiative can be taken either by the government or the private sectors, he said.