Cultivation of Marketable Mushroom

This article has been written by Neha Upadhyay (co-authored by Aarti Rajput, Sonam Angmo, Eshey Tundup, and Nawang Gyalchan), under the project “Solar technology for post-harvest processes and sustainable agriculture for income enhancement of tribal communities living in Cold Desert Region of Ladakh Kargil" under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.

- Neha Upadhyay

In Hilly Terrains of Ladakh

Ladakh has large number of vegetarian people and adverse climate conditions. They require some alternative supply of nutrition, which improves their health and immunity. Thus, mushroom can be a great alternative food resource that contains all the required nutrition. Especially, as 64 per cent of Ladakhi women suffer from anaemia. Some common visible symptoms include cracked nails, chipped enamel, reduced flow during menstrual period, and fatigue. After careful observation and understanding of the problem, the authors of this article had discussions with Rinpoche ji (Head of Buddhist monks) to include mushrooms in their diet and on farmlands. It also adds as an additional income for farmers and promotes sustainable agriculture. Mushrooms convert wastes into potential valuable resources. Once dried and managed using solar dryer we get organic solar dried shitake mushrooms that are highly popular and nutritious. Mushrooms can also be dried using solar dryers and stored for 4-6 months successfully, which improves the shelf life of mushrooms. Solar dried mushrooms provide natural brown colour. Solar dried mushrooms will retain nutrition and moisture content which can then be used to make soups. Vishwadeep Trust's innovation of the low-cost, portable solar dryer is beneficial for women and reduces hill-related accidents. Mushrooms that are grown organically by Vishwadeep Trust's scientific trainings and then dried using these authentic solar dryers fetch farmers 30 per cent higher prices.

Ladakhi farmers face many problems due to lack of enough cold storage facilities, this solar dryer acts as a portable storeroom. Other issues that they face are lack of systems in place to grow crops during winters. Mushroom cultivation is a great alternative for income enhancement in harsh winters.