Srinagar: Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura and Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday inaugurated “Integrated Mushroom Development Centre (IMDC) at Lal Mandi being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Agriculture said purpose of setting up these Mushroom Development Centres was that Mushroom industry should become an employment generating industry of the state.
Hanjura hopped that after setting up of IMDC centre at Lal Mandi, it will become an attractive for poor farmers especially for the unemployed youths as the Mushroom Industry has the potential to increase their income through greater production.
The Agriculture Minister also said to encourage mushroom cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir, the state agriculture department has introduced low-cost technology, subsidies and training about its cultivation.
Hanjura said efforts of the government are to introduce new schemes and innovative technology to the farmers so that their income would increase by 2022.
Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on the occasion said this centre will provide all possible assistance to the mushroom grower’s across the state to boost the production.
He said a large number of people are attracted to take up mushroom cultivation due to low initial investment and high returns.
The education minister also said the biggest advantage of mushroom cultivation is that in absence of an agricultural land, one can undertake mushroom cultivation indoors as well.
Director Agriculture Altaf Ajaz Andrabi on the occasion said this IMDC centre will get inputs to the growers under one roof.
The director also said said Mushroom Industry used to be a booming industry of the state and efforts are on to retain old glory of the traditional industry of the state.
A large number of senior officers of agriculture and its allied departments were present.
