Young Farmers in Kathua Boost Mushroom Farming with New Techniques
In Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, mushroom farming has seen a significant increase due to the efforts of young farmers adopting new techniques. Previously limited to a few months, mushroom cultivation now continues year-round with the help of control cropping units.
The Youth Setup control cropping unit allows for continuous mushroom production by maintaining controlled conditions with high-tech air conditioning systems. Kathua Chief Agriculture Officer Sanjeev Rai Gupta stated that mushroom production has surged from 1,000 to 9,000 quintals annually, generating Rs 10 crore in revenue for farmers.
Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), the Jammu and Kashmir Government supports young farmers with various benefits. Four control cropping units, each costing Rs 20 lakhs, have been established in Kathua, with farmers receiving an Rs 8 lakh subsidy under HADP. Three more projects are planned for the district.
In the last three months, 800 quintals of mushrooms have been produced in Kathua. The demand for mushrooms is increasing, driven by the hotel and tourism industries, with a large portion still imported from other states.
Young agripreneurs Arun Sharma and Vishav Singh have set up their own control cropping units, producing one to two quintals of mushrooms daily and achieving high incomes. Sharma mentioned that they previously cultivated seasonal crops but now ensure year-round production to meet market demand.
The government’s schemes aimed at encouraging farmers and doubling their income have significantly motivated these young agripreneurs.
Doubts Revealed
Kathua -: Kathua is a district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It’s a place where people live and work, including farming.
Mushroom Farming -: Mushroom farming is the process of growing mushrooms, which are a type of fungi that people eat. Farmers grow them in special conditions to make sure they grow well.
Control Cropping Units -: Control cropping units are special setups that help farmers grow crops, like mushrooms, all year round by controlling the environment, such as temperature and humidity.
Quintals -: A quintal is a unit of weight used in India. One quintal is equal to 100 kilograms. So, if production increased from 1,000 to 9,000 quintals, it means a lot more mushrooms are being grown.
Rs 10 crore -: Rs 10 crore means 10 crore rupees, which is a large amount of money in Indian currency. It shows how much money the farmers are making from selling mushrooms.
Holistic Agriculture Development Programme -: The Holistic Agriculture Development Programme is a government initiative that helps farmers by giving them support like money (subsidies) and resources to improve their farming methods.
Subsidies -: Subsidies are financial help from the government to farmers. This money helps them buy things they need for farming, like seeds or equipment, at a lower cost.