Regional mushroom mela and kisan goshthi:Enabling farmers to access technology
and advisory services
Mahantesh ShirurScientist
Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan, India
1
Background
• The idea of organising National MushroomMela was conceived with multiple objectivesduring 1990s
• National mela attained popularity amongmushroom entrepreneurs across India
2
National to Regional Mela: Shift inapproach
Difference National Mushroom Mela Regional Mushroom Mela
Place of Mela DMR, Solan Among cluster of mushroomgrowers
Emphasis Cultivation technology Cultivation technologyAdvisory Advisory
Mushroom consumption
Shift One day mela Week long survey before melato assess the local problems
Timing 10th
September each year Synchronous with peakcropping activity
Resources DMR, Solan DMR, Solan with involvementfrom local growers and linedepartments
4
Regional mushroom melasSl. Month Details of the event Host of the event Place and state
No and Year1 January, Regional mushroom mela K S Chauhan, Aterna village, Sonepat
2010 and Kisan Goshthi progressive farmer, District, (Haryana)
mushroom grower2 January, Regional mushroom mela Vijender Dhankad Gannaur village, Sonepat
2010 and Kisan Goshthi progressive farmer, district, (Haryana)
mushroom grower3 February, Regional mushroom mela Harsunjith Singh Thiara, Thiara mushroom farm,
2011 and mushroom Progressive mushroom Khanpura village, Dt
consumption fair grower Hoshiarpur (Punjab)4 February, Regional mushroom mela HAIC (Cooperating Haryana Agro Industrial
2011 and mushroom centre of DMR, Solan) Corporation, Murthal
consumption fair (Haryana)5 October, Regional mushroom mela Department of Krishi Bhavan, Talab tillo,
2011 and kisan Goshthi Agriculture, Govt. of Jammu (Jammu &J&K Kashmir)
5
Participants’ profileSl. Place and state By gender By age group in years TotalNo participant
Male Female 15-35 36-50 51 or abovefarmers
1 Aterna village, 224 (91.80) 20 (8.20) 118 (48.36) 83 (34.02) 43 (17.62)Sonepat District,
(Haryana) 2442 Gannaur village, 206 (92.79) 16 (7.21) 101 (45.50) 68 (30.63) 53 (23.87)
Sonepat district,
(Haryana) 2223 Thiara mushroom 150 (82.42) 32 (17.58) 74 (40.66) 66 (36.26) 42 (23.08)
farm, Khanpuravillage, Dt
Hoshiarpur (Punjab) 1824 Haryana Agro 325 (91.04) 35 (9.80) 171 (47.90) 126 (35.29) 60 (16.81)
IndustrialCorporation,
Murthal (Haryana) 3575 Krishi Bhavan, 230 (91.63) 21 (8.37) 112 (44.62) 96 (38.25) 43 (17.13)
Talab tillo, Jammu(Jammu &
Kashmir) 251
Total 1135 124 576 439 241 6
Chief source of information about mela for participants
8%
12%
37%DMR
4% Dept officials
News paper
Neighbours
Others
39%
8
Timing of the mela was good I got benefitted from the mela90.00%
82.24%
80.00%
70.00%69.34%
62.24%58.57%60.00%
51.15%
50.00% 48.85%
41.43%37.76%40.00%
30.66%30.00%
20.00% 17.76%
10.00%
0.00%At Gan HAIC Jammu Khan
100.00% 93.42% 92.48%
80.00%71.53%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%28.47%30.00%
17.86%21.37%
20.00%6.58% 7.52%10.00%
0.00%At Gan HAIC Jammu Khan
90.00% 82.14%78.63%
Facilities during the mela were good100.00%
93.57%86.86% 86.18% 90.23%
80.00% 69.47%
60.00%
40.00% 30.53%
13.82%20.00%6.43%
13.14% 9.77%No
0.00%YesAt Gan HAIC Jammu Khan
No Yes
10
I shall participate in next mela100.00%
88.57% 89.47% 89.47%90.00% 81.68%
77.37%80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%18.32%
22.63%20.00% 11.43% 10.53% 10.53%10.00%
0.00%At Gan HAIC Jammu Khan
No Yes
100.00%90.00%80.00%70.00%60.00%50.00%40.00%30.00%20.00%10.00%
0.00%
I will recommend to others toattend the mela
92.86% 88.82% 91.73%81.68%
76.64%
23.36%18.32%
No7.14% 11.18% 8.27%
YesAt Gan HAIC Jammu Khan
No Yes11
Overall perception and feedback ofparticipants of regional mushroom mela
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
A. The timing B. Highly C. Shall D. Facilities H. I shallwas appropriate beneficial participate in were good recommend to
future others …Sum of Yes Sum of No
12
Suggestions by the participants fororganising regional melas in the future
Plan and organise such event either before the start of the winter
season or immediately after the onset of winter season.
Publicity through television and other news media
Demonstrations of different varieties near the venue were requested
for seeing the results for comparison.
Appreciation or award for a local mushroom growers for innovative
techniques or successful entrepreneurship.
13
Acknowledgments
• Haryana Agro Industrial Corporation, Murthal,Haryana
• Department of Agriculture, Talab tillo, Jammu(Jammu & Kashmir)
• Sh. Kanwal Singh Chauhan, Progressive farmer,mushroom grower, Aterna, Haryana
• Sh. Vijender, Mushroom grower, Gannaur,Sonepat dt, Haryana
• Sh. Harsunjit Singh Tiara, Progressive farmer,mushroom grower, Hoshiarpur, Punjab
17
Top Related