Tue Dec 03 05:30:27 UTC 2024: ## Bihar Agricultural University Launches Mushroom Farming Training to Combat Unemployment and Malnutrition
**Patna, Bihar:** In an effort to address pressing issues like land scarcity, food insecurity, unemployment, inflation, poverty, and malnutrition, Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) has launched a series of employment-oriented programs. A three-day training program on mushroom cultivation for job creation and sustainable income was recently held at the Bhola Paswan Shastri College of Agriculture.
The program, attended by farmers and entrepreneurs from seven blocks of the district, focused on practical techniques for cultivating oyster, button, and milky mushrooms. The training covered production, preservation, crop management, medicinal mushroom cultivation, harvesting, grading, processing, packaging, value addition, and marketing strategies, including recipe development (pickles, snacks, etc.) and branding. Participants also received guidance on low-cost farm design and profitability analysis.
BAU’s Dr. Dilip Kumar Mahto, principal of the agricultural college, inaugurated the workshop. He highlighted the potential of mushroom farming, stating that utilizing even 10% of Bihar’s straw and paddy residue for mushroom production could provide a weekly mushroom meal for the entire state’s population while generating crores of rupees in revenue. Dr. Mani Bhushan Thakur, the training coordinator, emphasized the ease of cultivating mushrooms using agricultural waste in homes, sheds, or any available space.
The training was attended by numerous farmers eager to explore this lucrative agricultural opportunity. The university hopes this initiative will contribute significantly to alleviating unemployment and improving nutritional standards in the region.
First Piper 