|
Don't
get surprised, if you get mushroom from Silpati village in
posh locality of south Delhi. Silpati is a small village
of Betul district in Madhya Pradesh, which is emerging as
major mushroom farming centre in state as well as in
country. Credit for this mushroom growth for mushroom
cultivation goes to native of Silpati villge Ram Kishore
Kahar. Once a labourer on daily wages, today Ram Kishore
can boost an annual turn over worth lakhs of rupees by
supplying mushroom and mushroom seeds to traders and
cultivators. Keeping in view increasing demand, Ram
Kishore is planning to produce 25 tonnes of mushroom per
year from current annual production of five tonnes.
Ram
Kishore's is a rags-to-riches story. Despite all efforts,
when already married Ram Kishore failed to secure a job
for himself he was compelled to work as labourer to make
both ends meet. But where there's a will there's a way.
One day he came to know about government's TRYSEM Scheme.
Under the scheme he opted for training in mushroom
production. He started his mushroom production centre with
loan worth Rs. ten thousand and subsidy worth Rs. three
thousand by the government. Now there was no turning back
in Ram Kishore's life. Impressed by Ram Kishore's success
the Horticulture Department extended him technical support
and a commercial bank sanctioned loan to the tune of Rs.
3.47 lakh. The financial aid enabled him to launch a
project costing Rs. 8.82.
The
double unit project comprises of one unit for mushroom
production another for mushroom seed production. Ram
Kishore mainly focuses an scientific cultivation of oyster
mushroom. Ram Kishore produces eight crops of mushroom
every year. There are two sheds and one laboratory in his
farm for mushroom seed production and mushroom
cultivation. Silpati has made its existence felt in Madhya
Pradesh with the large scale cultivation of artificial
mushroom. Special attention is being paid to make the
mushroom. Special attention is being paid to make the
mushroom germ free and further to maintain its quality.
Earnings through mushroom production has enabled Ram
Kishore to solemnise daughter's marriage and he has got
constructed big house.
Ram
Kishore plans to increase annual capacity of mushroom
production along with enhancing the existing four tonne
mushroom seed capacity. Seeds-men from places such as
Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Rewa, Hoshangabad, Itarsi opt no
other place but Silpati to cater to their mushroom seed
requirements. Ram Kishore says earlier he used to be a
daily wager now the situation is quite different putting
him in a position to providing the means of earning
livelihood to other needy persons.
Explaining
the properties of mushroom, Ram Kishore says mushroom
reduces fat. Mushroom is a vegetable with protein contents
beneficial specially for patients suffering from heart
enlargement, diabetes, anemia etc. Further, a few
varieties of mushroom including oyster mushroom contain
cancer resistant elements. According to Ram Kishore nearly
Rs. two thousand varieties of mushroom are available all
over the world. He, however, points out saying that there
are only 15 varieties are edible. Of these five varieties
are grown artificially under scientific observation. In
India mushroom growers usually take to farming of oyster
mushroom and paddy straw mushroom.
|