Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is set to focus on large-scale mushroom farming, which is expected to boost income generation. The initiative, spearheaded by the Agriculture Department, aims to introduce mushroom farming as a highly profitable sector..

At the inauguration of the district's first Mushroom Village project at Manikanteswaram in Vattiyoorkavu, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad emphasised the health benefits of mushrooms, which help strengthen the immune system. He also noted that mushroom farming is being introduced as an income-generating sector, particularly for women and youth, with efforts underway to ensure widespread availability of mushrooms throughout Kerala.

Mushroom Village project: A comprehensive approach

The Mushroom Village project, a key initiative of the Agriculture Department, aims to strengthen the distribution chain by establishing 100 mushroom villages across the state. Over Rs 30 crore has been allocated for this purpose. Each Mushroom Village will consist of 100 small-scale mushroom production units, two large production units, one mushroom seed production unit, three mushroom processing units, two pack houses, and 10 composting units.

Arundhati, a young woman farmer, was among the first to launch a mushroom production unit at Manikanteswaram with the support of the government. The project is being executed jointly by the Agriculture Department and the State Horticulture Mission.

Training for cancer-fighting mushroom varieties

Minister Prasad also shared that a team comprising doctors from the Regional Cancer Centre, agriculture officials, and mushroom farmers will soon attend a training programme at the Directorate of Mushroom Research in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The programme will focus on expanding the cultivation of mushroom varieties known for their cancer-fighting properties.