PAMETI organized a three-day training programme and one-day exposure visit on “Mushroom Production & Value Addition” conducted under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) scheme in collaboration with Department of Microbiology, PAU from March 17-20, 2025. The training program was attended by 21 farmers.

     At the onset, Dr K B Singh, Director, PAMETI welcomed participants and informed them about the role of PAMETI in conducting the trainings for the benefit of the farming fraternity. He emphasized on the health benefits of mushroom and its growing demand in the cities vis-à-vis the potential for its cultivation.

    Dr Shivani Sharma, Dept. of Microbiology, PAU informed the participants about the status of mushroom production in the state and also presented the data on economics of its cultivation. She explained the preparation of compost using the short method along with spawning, casing and its harvesting. She further emphasized the need to have well designed mushroom farms to ensure optimum production. Dr Jaspreet Kaur and Dr Anna Goyal taught farmers spawn preparation and explained the technicalities involved in the cultivation of different varieties of mushroom such as oyster, milky, paddy and shiitake mushroom.These technicalities were practically explained to the farmers by taking them to the mushroom farms.

      Dr Nikhil Mehta, HDO, Dept. of Horticulture discussed the procedure for taking subsidy and financial assistance for mushroom.Dr Harmeet Kaur, Deputy Director, PAMETI Business Management, PAMETI elucidated the concepts of marketing of mushroom and urged the farmers to venture into agri-entrepreneurship to create a sizeable venture in the interest of the farming community. Dr. Preetinder Kaur explained the concept of mushroom processing and packaging to the farmers by conducting a live demo in the food science lab. 

      Ms. Vandana, Deputy Director-IT, PAMETI thanked the participants for attending the training program and she hoped some of them would take up the mushroom farming as a ready source of income and as a means of crop diversification.