Punjab all set to experiment with mushrooms

Farming to begin in Lahore, Faisalabad, Chichawatni and Sargodha

LAHORE:

The Sericulture Department in Punjab is all set to cultivate mushrooms across the province.

Packed with varying degrees of protein and fibre, mushrooms will now be cultivated in Lahore, Faisalabad, Chichawatni, and Sargodha. Details shared by the department show that the province is ready to experiment with mushroom farming with the help of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) agriculture department.

“We will promote the cultivation of mushrooms in Punjab with the help of K-P’s agriculture department. A laboratory has been established in Lahore’ Forest Colony for experiments,” said Muhammad Farooq Bhatti, deputy director of the Sericulture Department.

In K-P, Bhatti said, the cultivation of mushrooms is very common. He said the production of mushrooms is easy and lucrative. Known by a variety of local names, mushrooms are essentially fungi, a group of organisms distinct from plants, animals and bacteria. They contain essential vitamins and minerals and are the best substitute for protein.

According to Bhatti, the cultivation process does not require extensive labour. “After seven days of cultivation, small pin-like heads emerge from the mushroom, which turn into more mushrooms after three to five days,” he explained.

Talking about the types of mushrooms, Bhatti said, the farming of European mushrooms and the oyster mushrooms is very common in Pakistan. However, Bhatti believes the country needs to increase the capacity and production artificially to be able to meet global requirements. Mushroom exports, the deputy director pointed out, contributed more than $12 million to the economy.

Experts believe Pakistan can be a major player in the global market. “The country has the potential to produce and export more if it focuses on new cultivation techniques,” said one expert. “This home-based industry has enormous potential,” he added.

Research shows mushrooms come packed with a long list of health benefits. They are rich in the B-Vitamins: riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid. While mushrooms are botanically classified as fungi, they contain the same nutritional attributes as vegetables.

Health experts believe, mushrooms help reduce the risk of coronary heath disease and also improve the digestive system. Even while they don’t taste the best, mushrooms have had die-hard fans. Amanita caesarea, commonly known as Caesar’s mushroom, was a favorite of the early rulers of the Roman empire.

The crop, according to experts, has minimum impact on the environment. The process of growing mushrooms, they said, is easy and environment friendly. “A square meter space can yield more than 8kg of fresh mushrooms and that too with limited effort,” claimed one expert. According to the Journal of Nutrition, preliminary evidence suggests that mushrooms may support healthy immune and inflammatory responses. Some preclinical and clinical studies also suggest mushrooms have an impact on cognition, weight management, oral health, and cancer risk.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2020.