STRY programme trains Mokokchung youth in mushroom farming

DIMAPUR — The Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Mokokchung, in collaboration with the State Agriculture Management and Training Institute (SAMETI), Medziphema, and MANAGE, Hyderabad, held a six-day skill training of rural youth (STRY) at Mokokchung College of Teacher Education (MCTE), Mokokchung.

According to a press release, the training was held from October 9 to 14 and aimed to provide skill-based training to rural youth in mushroom cultivation, which has grown in popularity due to its food, economic, and environmental value.

“It is an up-and-coming source of alternative income for many agripreneurs,” it read.

The training began with an inaugural programme chaired by Bendangkumzuk, BTM, Ongpangkong south block, ATMA Mokokchung, where Sentinaro Longchar, deputy project director, ATMA Mokokchung, delivered a speech on the STRY programme highlights, implications, objectives, and future projections offering modular training skills to rural youth in creating employment opportunities and financial stability.

The topics covered by the resource persons during the theory session included the scope and importance of mushroom technology, nutritional and medicinal benefits, low-cost mushroom cultivation for doubling farmer’s income, climate requirements for cultivation of paddy straw oyster mushrooms, guides to small-scale mushroom farming, post-harvest management, the economics of oyster mushrooms, and the importance of value addition.

Hands-on demonstrations of the cutting of paddy straw, the sterilisation process, the preparation of mushroom bags, techniques of preservation and sterilisation, and the preparation of oyster mushroom pickles were all part of the practical session.

A total of 20 participants registered and attended the programme, with 10 male and 10 female participants.

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