Shiitake Mushroom cultivation to benefit farmers in Jammu

Jammu : The cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms (Lentinula Edodes), an edible and medicinal wood-dwelling fungus, is gaining significant momentum in the Jammu region.
1000 Shiitake spawn blocks (ready-to-fruit blocks), were introduced Monday at Spawn Production Lab in Krishi Bhawan, Jammu, for multi-location trials. These spawn blocks were provided under the Crop Diversification Promotion Project (JICA-ODA) by the Shiitake Cultivation Training Centre at Agriculture University Palampur.
The trials will be conducted across several locations, including the Shiitake lab of the Spawn Production Office in Jammu, Demonstration Cum Training Centre (DCTC) of Jammu Division, and among progressive mushroom growers across the Jammu province.
On this occasion, Director Agriculture Jammu, Arvinder Singh Reen visited the Spawn Production Lab and inspected the Shiitake spawn blocks intended for the trials. He emphasized the importance of this initiative in promoting crop diversification and empowering local farmers to adopt profitable, sustainable agricultural practices.
Director further added that this initiative would provide farmers with the opportunity to engage in year-round mushroom cultivation, thereby ensuring continuous income and enhanced economic returns. The Director stated that this project is especially beneficial for small-scale mushroom growers, as it would generate employment opportunities and support local economies.
Present during the inspection were Spawn Production Officer Verinder Dogra and SMS-III Kewal Krishan Sharma, who played a key role in organizing the trial activities.