An off-campus farmers’ training cum demonstration programme on “Paddy straw mushroom as a profitable enterprise for ensured family income, nutritional security and rural employment” was organized on 11th September, 2026 in the adopted Haridamada village cluster of Khordha under the Farmer FIRST Project of the Institute. Dr. Sumanta Kumar Mishra, Principal Scientist and PI, provided an overview of paddy straw mushroom cultivation, discussed the scope and potential of paddy straw mushroom cultivation as a low-cost and profitable enterprise for improving family income and livelihood security. He briefed the participants on different types of edible mushrooms, their commercial potential and the essential requirements and practices for successful paddy straw mushroom production. Dr. Bhabani Sankar Satapathy, Senior Scientist and Co-PI, highlighted the nutritional importance of mushrooms, their role in improving household nutrition, and their potential for generating additional family income and rural employment. A practical demonstration on scientific preparation of paddy straw mushroom beds was conducted to impart hands-on knowledge and skills to the participating farmers and farmwomen. The participants were demonstrated the step-wise procedure of bed preparation, spawning and necessary care and management for successful mushroom production. In addition, an alternative low-cost method of paddy straw mushroom cultivation using vegetable trays and loose paddy straw was also demonstrated as a simple option for small-scale and household-level production. The demonstration enabled the participants to understand both conventional and alternative methods of mushroom cultivation and encouraged them to adopt mushroom farming as an income-generating enterprise. As critical inputs, hundred mushroom spawn bottles and required polythene sheets were provided benefiting 52 participating farmers and farmwomen. The programme was coordinated and supported by Ms. Isha Anindita Sahoo, SRF and Mr. Firoj Kumar Pradhan, Field Assistant of the Project.
