Srinagar: The inaugural ceremony of the first plucking of Button Mushrooms was Wednesday held at the Demonstration-cum-Training Centre (DCTC) at Agriculture Complex Lal Mandi here.
The inauguration comes in the wake efforts for revival of mushroom cultivation in Kashmir where an Integrated Mushroom Development Centre (IMDC) was recently inaugurated jointly by Minister for Agriculture Gh. Nabi Lone Hanjura and Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari.
The compost prepared and pasteurized at IMDC was also placed on trial basis at the DCTC. The crop was first produced scientifically under intense hygienic conditions in the recently commissioned Integrated Mushroom Development Centre for the sale and supply to the consumers.
Speaking on the occasion, Joint Director (Project Coordinator Mushroom) Abdul Qayum Shah said the Mushroom is of best quality and produced under extreme hygienic conditions.
He highlighted various provisions of Mushroom cultivation and said this allied wing of Agriculture has a potential not only to provide employment but it can also be practiced for domestic requirements of households.
Shah also said by introduction of modern technology the composting period which was otherwise 45 days has got reduced to 15-20 days resulting in reduction of cost of cultivation. He said the Integrated Mushroom Development Centre has been commissioned with hopes for revival of the sector.
Incharge Director Agriculture Kashmir Abdul Raheem Samoon while speaking on the occasion appreciated the efforts of all concerned to make the IMDC a reality.
