PANCHAGARH, May 9: The commercial mushroom cultivation has started for the first time in the district with a view to providing rich nutrients to people.
The mushroom, as it is said, is rich with high level of fibre, vitamin B, C and D, cholesterol-controlling elements and potassium. It helps reduce the risk of blood pressure and heart disease.
The value of mushrooms is increasing among health-conscious people. Two farmers from Panchagarh Sadar Upazila were given 10-day training at the Mushroom Training Centre in Savar.
These two farmers have been given a mushroom cultivation room, autoclave machine and a van for marketing. For the first time, they planted 200 prawns (seeds).
Each prawn (seed) was bought at a Tk 17. A total of 50 kilogram (kg) of mushrooms were produced from these 200 prawns. These are selling at Tk 300per kg.
Prawn seeds can be harvested within 7-8 days of planting. It does not take a long time to become self-sufficient by cultivating it in a small area.
It can be cultivated all year round. A total of 60 farmers are receiving training at these two centres. In the future, these farmers will start mushroom cultivation at their own initiative.
A Field Day under the project to improve nutrition and reduce poverty through mushroom cultivation expansion in the financial year 2024-2025 was held on Monday afternoon in Baniapara Village at Dhakmara Union in Sadar Upazila. This programme was organized by the Department of Agricultural Extension.
A farmers' rally led by Subodh Chandra Roy, Additional Deputy Director of the DAE, was brought out.
Abdul Matin, DAE's Deputy Director, was present as the chief guest. Among others, Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Asadunnabi and Senior Media Worker Shahidul Islam Shahid spoke.
The programme was moderated by Upazila Agricultural Extension Officer Arjun Chandra Roy.
More than 200 farmers and agriculturists from Sadar Upazila, including Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Gulzar Ansari were present at the rally.
