Agartala, February 20 (TIWN): A two-day training programme was organized on Mushroom cultivation and entrepreneur development from February 15 to 16 at Nepali Basti of Bamutia block in West Tripura by ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Tripura centre under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP PROJECT).

A total of 20 tribal farmers attended the training among which majority of them were women. The training was organized to make them apprised of mushroom cultivation practices.

On the first day of the training programme the trainees were made aware the mushroom, its importance and it’s potential to be the additional source of income to the farmers. The technical knowhow was given to the farmers both theoretically and by practical demonstration by Hemavati Ranebennur, Scientist, Plant Pathology, ICAR assisted by technical staff Shyamal Ghosh and Nirmal Das.

All the steps of mushroom cultivation like processing of the paddy substrate, drying of the substrate, bed preparation were demonstrated to the trainee. On second day of the training programme the trainees were made to follow the directions as given on the first day of training programme. On the third day the trainees prepared the mushroom beds independently.

On the same day Valedictory session was chaired by Dr. M. Datta Joint Director, ICAR. In his speech, Dr. Datta has given importance for research on local need. He emphasized the mushroom cultivation in Tripura conditions which is well suited for cultivation of various types of mushroom.

He has requested to find out the way to increase the income of the farmers integrating the mushroom cultivation as a source of additional livelihood He requested to make use of the training for their economic stability and nutritional security. The certificates were given to all the trainees at end of the programme.