Oyster mushroom farming picking up in Bihar's Katihar district

KATIHAR: Oyster mushroom farming has been picking up in Katihar district for the past 3-4 years.
“The gestation period as well as critical input cost for oyster mushroom farming is less, compared to milky white and button mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms get ready for harvesting in 20-25 days. The oyster mushroom is sold at Rs200/kg while milky white mushroom is available at Rs300/kg and button mushroom at Rs150-200/kg,” senior scientist and head of Katihar Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Reeta Singh, said.“Technology-wise, button mushroom farming is tough. It also takes time and requires more input cost,” she said.
“Mushroom farming is also good for landless people as well as residue crop management, besides, keeping the ecology and environment safe. The burning of crops residue such as stubble of maize, wheat and paddy causes environment pollution. But, stubbles are used in the mushroom farming,” the KVK head said, adding, “At least 1,000 families and self-help groups in Katihar have been engaged in the production of all the three varieties of mushroom for commercial purpose.”
Reeta said since it does not need land, landless and needy people are coming forward to know about the mushroom production. “The KVK, Katihar, is the ‘biotech kisan hub’ where farmers of Araria, Purnia and Khagaria districts are also given tips on critical input costs, seeds and straws for mushroom production,” she said.
About its medicinal and nutritional values, she said, “In the vegetarian category, soybean has maximum 42% protein content, followed by mushroom (35-40% protein). Doctors recommend consumption of mushrooms for diabetic, blood pressure and arthritis patients. The shelf life of mushroom is less. Therefore, pickles, morabba (sweets), fortification of baby food, as well as its powder form is mixed with soup and chapatis to make the diet more healthy and energy giving,” she added.