Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 18
A group of school and college students in Dimapur’s satellite township of Chumukedima are growing mushrooms to do away with asking pocket money from their parents. The mushrooming ‘business’, pun intended, has become all the rage in the neighbourhood with even mothers taking to the ‘part-time’ activity. This, to a degree, is because of the nominal costs of establishment. A dark shed, some straw, water and a quantity of spawn is all that is required to get things into motion. On a rotation basis, the enterprising students water the fleshy fungi three times a day.
Alem, one of the older boys, explains the process involved in growing the mushrooms. After the straw is cut, wetted and made ready, spawns are inserted and then hung, he gives details. The know-how was imparted by the Don Bosco Youth and Educational Service, run under the guidance of Father John.
And mushrooms being known as elegant, earthly and enigmatic, the ‘growers’ find a ready market in the neighbourhood. Fresh ones cost Rs 80 a kilo while a dried version of the same quantity carries a price tag of Rs 300. The edible fungi are plucked on alternate days. The mushrooms, though, do not grow for four summer months.
Ren James, a familiar face in the neighbourhood, is responsible for making the connection between the boys and the Don Bosco facility.
Two children trade rebounds on a ‘hand-made’ table tennis as Ren, 29, explains the need for the youth to occupy themselves in healthy activities, instead of indulging in destructive habits.
An organization in the area, known as the Concerned Citizens of Chumukedima, puts primary focus of initiative and activity on awareness campaigns for safety in accident-prone areas, raises consciousness for responsible and active citizenship, and also make efforts to initiate platforms to realize common positive goals.
