Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 15
The demand for mushrooms in the state of Nagaland is far greater than the supply, given the fact that mushrooms are delicacy for almost all the people of the state.
“This means there is a big growth potential in cultivation of mushrooms, besides it is an important employment generating avenue in the state,” according to the annual administrative report of state’s Horticulture department 2016-17.
In line with the department’s vision of empowering women through mushroom cultivation, the department has envisioned to establish two mushroom production units under the pilot project on empowerment of women through mushroom cultivation during 2016-17 with an amount of Rs. 40 lakhs. The project will be taken up in convergence with the Women Resource Development department.
Work for establishment of one of the mushroom production units is already underway with the first installment of funds and the other unit will be taken up during future release of funds, the report stated.
The report further said that mushroom cultivation is among the most profitable farming businesses in the state today. Mushrooms are a delicacy and a health food which is low in calories, high in vegetable protein, chitin, iron, zinc, fibre, essential amino acids vitamins and minerals.
Mushroom farming, according to the report, is a cheap source of income that generates returns in a very short period. Mushrooms give high return on initial investments, it added.
