High yield: Promoting mushroom cultivation

UAF professor sheds light on the ease, benefits and cost effectiveness

FAISALABAD: With the introduction of new varieties that allow round the year cultivation, the country has huge scope in the production of mushrooms, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Institute of Horticulture Professor Dr Asif Ali.

Mushroom cultivation would not only enhance farmers’ income but is a great source of curing diseases, he said, adding that earlier, it used to be cultivated only in winters, but since new varieties have been introduced by scientists it can become a high yield edible food.

“Modern technology has made it possible to grow mushrooms under control and semi-controlled conditions,” he said. “All varieties require a wide range of temperature, from 15 to 20 degrees. Since Pakistan lies in the temperate zone, scientists have introduced a variety which could be cultivated at 35 degrees.”

As for its cultivation, Ali said that it did not necessarily require land or soil. “It can be grown in small houses. In a room of just 10 square metres, the yield could be more than 150 kg a week, and at a price of Rs600 per kg, it could generate a profit of Rs90,000 a week.”

The production of per-square meter of mushrooms is 10 to 15 kg. The cost of production is Rs100-150 per kg and is sold in the wholesale market at a price of Rs600 per kg and in retail markets at Rs900-to 1000 per kg.

For large scale cultivation, though, properly designed rooms are needed, requiring suitable temperature, added Ali. “But even then it does not require any big investment. The leaves of wheat, paddy, sugarcane, maize, cotton and sugarcane wastages can be used as mediums for its cultivation. They can even grow in darkness, where no other crop would grow.”

Talking about health benefits of the food, Ali said mushrooms contain few calories and are a great choice for a low calorie diet. It is also being used in the treatment of various diseases and many pharmaceutical companies are using mushrooms to prepare medicines.

Ali urged farmers to move from traditional farming to modern farming methods.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th,  2015.

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