Aaranyak in association with DBT-sponsored Technology Incubation Center on Mushroom at Bodoland University successfully organised a training programme on mushroom cultivation for Karbi women.
The Karbi women were from the villages under the Kohora river basin in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.
Aaranyak has been working with the communities with the objective of improving and diversifying sustainable agricultural practices through scientific techniques and methods.
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The training was held at the house of the village head of Bakring Engti village.
Two researchers Sibo Bodo & Amrit Debnath from the Biotechnology Department of Bodoland University conducted the training under the guidance of Prof. Sandeep Das, Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, BU & Director, IQAC, Bodoland University.
A total of 10 women from 3 villages including Bakring Engti, Chandrasing Rongpi and Phumen Engti,
participated in the training programme.
The participants learned about the scientific process of mushroom cultivation.
They also got an overall idea of different types of edible mushrooms and its potential economic importance for a family.
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Sibo & Amrit emphasized that mushroom is a well-known source for proteins, vitamins and antioxidants as well as can provide food, nutritional and financial security for women and their families.
Based on the climate and environment of the area, cultivation of oyster mushrooms was advised.
The participants were enthusiastic and excited to learn the various techniques involved in the cultivation.
Exuberant and eager participants felt confident that they too can produce and cultivate good quality mushrooms.
The basic training covered the important aspects and steps involved in the cultivation of Oyster mushrooms like maintaining the ambient room temperature, sterilization of paddy straw and cultivating mushrooms in paddy straw cylinders.
Sibo & Amrit highlighted economic and financial benefits farmers can achieve by cultivating mushrooms, said an statement issued by Aaranyak.
Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy was present to guide and motivate the participants to increase their zeal in learning and practicing mushroom cultivation, supported by Sourav Gupta, Rowel Engti, Ratul Das and Avinash Phangcho from
Aaranyak to coordinate the training programme.
Aaranyak is committed to support the communities living in the villages of the Kohora River Basin for sustainable livelihoods through its community-based Natural Resource Management Programme currently supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Services and the Disney Conservation Fund.