Mushroom cultivation in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March. 20. — The West Bengal Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation, Malda branch, under the government’s Public Private Partnership Project (PPP), has begun the task of mushroom cultivation in Malda. They have launched the project with assistance from tribal women of various self-help-groups which are engaged in a number of Large-size Multipurpose Societies (Lamps) in the district. Authorities said that a private entrepreneur, Anwesha Agro Products, the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation and the Integrated Cooperative Development Project have jointly initiated the pilot project with members of SHGs in Habibpur.Reportedly, tribal women from the Rahutara and Tapsahaat villages have successfully cultivated 25 kg of mushrooms in the first phase. Now, more tribal members from SHGs have joined the project for producing mushrooms. Under the leadership of the Gazole Lamps recently, many tribal women elected by the administration received training for mushroom cultivation, officials said. Considering the present climatic condition of the district, Anwesha Agro Products decided to train the tribal women free, as per the agreements, to produce two types of mushrooms. “At present, we are training the SHG members for producing Dhingri (Pleurotus sajor-cajor) and white button (Agaricus bisporus). We aim to better the quality of production of the mushrooms to suit the demand in the markets,” said Mr Abhijit Dan, a private entrepreneur. “The tribal women belonging to SHGs have mastered the technique of producing mushrooms in their houses,” he added. Officials said that the district magistrate also visited the Habibpur Lamps and sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for infrastructure development for the SHGs and other establishments. “We are providing Central assistance for cultivating mushrooms. The private entrepreneur has taken responsibility of its marketing,” said Mr Sarit Das, branch manager, WBTDCC, Malda.“After receiving the green signal from our higher authorities, we are now planning to lunch another awareness campaign to help people develop a taste for mushrooms and its by-products,” said Mr Sarit Das. “We will portray mushroom as the ideal food for the vegetarians as they contain 52 per cent protein,” Mr Das said. #