Port Blair, Nov. 1: The Secretary (Agri), A&N Administration, Smti Smitha R. IAS, inaugurated the four days Off Campus Training Programme on ‘Mushroom Cultivation and Extension Strategies for Increasing Farmers Income’ for the Officers of Department of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration’ today in the Conference Hall of Directorate of Agriculture, Haddo. The programme is being organized by Extension Education Institute, PJTSU, Hyderabad in association with Department of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary (Agri) motivated the participants to participate actively and acquire the scientific knowledge on mushroom cultivation for its effective implementation in the field as mushroom cultivation is one of the most economical ways of upgrading income of the farmers other than field crops, which ultimately increase human resource directly or indirectly. Mushrooms are valued not only as nutritious and delicious food but these also possess medicinal properties. As Mushroom is rich in protein, it provides an opportunity to add Mushroom in our daily diet. She stressed upon mushroom cultivation which is a new venture for the farming community mainly for the farm women for their livelihood support.
The Director of Agriculture, Shri Vikram Singh, welcomed the gathering. He stressed upon the need of such training for extension functionaries of scheme implementing Departments. He also urged the participants to actively participate in the training and acquire the valuable scientific knowledge for wide dissemination of the same to the farming community. Further, the Director also announced that an incentive will be awarded to the Best Trainee among the 30 participants who performs best in the field to motivate the farming community for mushroom cultivation.
Dr. M. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director, Extension Education Institute, Hyderabad briefed about the course contents of the training & insisted for transfer of knowledge & skills learned for the benefit of farming community. The important contents to be covered in the training programme are Global scenario in mushroom cultivation, Production technology of milky and oyster mushrooms, Entrepreneurial potential of mushroom technology supply & value chain management in mushroom, Mushroom farming business, Opportunities for Rural enterprises through mushroom cultivation, Types of edible mushrooms, Postharvest management and Value addition in mushrooms and spwan production technology scope & enterprises, Extension strategies for promotion of production and value addition in mushrooms, GOI Schemes, Programs, Initiatives in Agri and Allied Sectors etc. Some of the topics will be covered through online mode also by experts from Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru and College of Agriculture, Kerala. Dr. N. Praveen, Professor, EEI proposed vote of thanks.
Altogether 30 Officer/officials from Department of Agriculture are participating in the training programme. The programme was also attended by Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Principal Scientist, Head KVK, Shri Ramesh Kumar, Joint Director (Agri), HQ and other officers of Agriculture Department.