Khensa village ranks second to set-up mushroom spawn lab

MOKOKCHUNG— Khensa village in Mokokchung district got a distinction to become the second to set-up a self-funded mushroom spawn laboratory in Nagaland.

The mushroom spawn laboratory was a self-funded venture initiated by the Khensa Aluyimer Telok (KAT) at an approximate cost of INR 4.9 lakh located at Wastu Multi-Utility Centre.

The mushroom spawn laboratory-cum-mushroom cultivation and upskilling training for mushroom growers in Khensa village was inaugurated by the additional deputy commission (ADC) of Mokokchung, Chumlamo Humtsoe. The programme was organised by KAT, Kensa Senotsur Mongdang and Khensa women ministry and sponsored by ATMA Nagaland.

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Delivering the keynote address, Dr. I Amenla, retired joint director of Agriculture, stated that shortage of spawn propelled them to start a functional mushroom spawn laboratory. She informed that the project’s long-term vision was to establish mushroom enterprises and make Khensa a centre of mushroom cultivation and also export mushroom seeds, impart training on mushroom cultivation to farmers from various districts.

She informed that mushroom cultivation is off-and-on farm activities, which would be an added income for the housewives and older womenfolk. In this regard, she informed that focus would be given to women farmers and women SHG to promote economic enterprises by imparting training on upskilling and capacity building, besides mobilisation of manpower and various resources.

The special invitee and ADC, Chumlamo Humtsoe, has acknowledged the Khensa Aluyimer Telok for setting up a mushroom spawn laboratory through self-funding and termed it as a historic occasion.

Humtsoe was impressed on the contributions made by numerous Ph.D holders along with agriculture graduates and officials in the agriculture and allied departments from Khensa village in their efforts to uplift the village to greater heights.

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He encouraged the farmers to be self- reliant and self-sufficient so that they need not depend on other states for food. He further encouraged the villagers to work consistently so that the village could be a model village for other villages.

The special invitee also released the oyster mushroom cultivation folder arranged by ATMA Mokokchung during the event.

A retired joint director of Horticulture, Dr. Moa Walling, informed that SHGs initially cultivated mushrooms in the village and subsequently decided to help the community in starting the mushroom production unit in the village back in 2018.

He added that the vision of the project was to introduce a mushroom spawn (mushroom seeds) production unit in Khensa village and to experiment, conduct trials and prepare oyster mushroom spawn production under the climatic conditions of  Mokokchung district.

He also informed that the project was aimed at catering mushroom seeds to the demand of the farmers in Mokokchung district and subsequently expand the marketing linkage with neighbouring districts in the later stages.

Upskill the farmers in the value addition of mushroom products like dried mushroom, mushroom pickle etc. also part of the vision, he added.

He further stated that the project objective was to provide a sustainable enterprise for income generation targeting women farmers and SHGs and to upgrade KAME into KAME Skill Development Centre.

The inaugural programme was followed with a training on mushroom cultivation for mushroom growers.