Mushroom Awareness Program at Ayodhya, 2016 (Part-1)

Urbanization has not left enough land for farmers to cultivate different crops. Due to this reason food crisis and malnutrition especially in terms of protein and micro nutrients has developed both in rural and urban areas which is resulting higher incidence of disease like diarrhoea,malaria, measles and acute respiratory  infections among malnourished children. In addition to infectious disease, malnutrition is associated with delayed mental development and even growth retardation. In such circumstances, efforts in search of alternative resources of food may be of greater importance. Infact, it is the availability of food sources like meat, mollusks, insects, algae, yeast etc. which can meet up the shortage of food stuff to a considerable extent but unfortunately it may not be adopted by Indian market due to food taboos which prevent people from consuming nutritious food even when these are easily available. Several superstitions, belief and some time religion also have a powerful influence on the food habit of the people. Mushroom may have been considered suitable in this respect which provide a rich addition to the diet in terms of protein, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Keeping this in mind, a mushroom awareness program has been conducted under the banner of Sri Laxman Prasad Pyare Lal Agro Products, Ayodhya during the month of January, 2016. This program was conducted under my supervision. The students of different institutions viz., K.S.S. P.G. College, Sri Paramhans Girls Degree College, Sri Paramhans Agriculture College, Raj Bali Smarak Public Inter Collage, S.R.K.M.K. Higher Secondary School and Modern Study Center took parts on different dates.  

M.Sc. (Botany) students from K.S.S. P.G. College along with their professors visiting pilot project on mushroom production at Sri Laxman Prasad Pyare lal Agro Products, Ayodhya

Students from Paramhans Girls Degree college during Mushroom Awareness Program 

Students and faculty members, Raj Bali Smarak Public Inter College at mushroom unit

 Staff and students from SRKMK Higher Secondary School during Mushroom Awareness Program

 Visitors at mushroom unit: Modern Study Center (Left, top & middle); Mr. Inarmal, Assistant Professor,Department of Geography , Nandininagar Mahavidyalaya; Mr. Sushil Maurya, Proprietor, Vishnu Computers (Bottom, extreme Right) and others

Besides elucidating various aspects of production technology of button and grey oyster mushroom and their health benefit tips, various clues regarding the production of exotic mushrooms viz., King Oyster, Buna Shimeji, Enoki and Shiitake were also demonstrated.

King oyster in fruiting (Top, left); Mature king oyster (Left, middle); Button mushroom (Left, bottom) and Grey oyster mushroom (Right)at Sri Laxman Prasad Pyare Lal Agro products, Ayodhya

 A press conference was also arranged at this center on January 22, 2016. In which, journalist from the different leading news papers i.e. Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Hindustan, Janmorcha and Awadh Comment Week took part and covered the work which is being done at this center for the awareness of mushroom production and their consumption in related to protein deficiency problems. This conference was convened by Dr. R.S. Kanaujia and Dr. C.S. Singh Ex. Associate Professor of Botany department, K.S.S. P.G. College, Ayodhya, who are credited for the awareness of mushroom in this area by their untiring efforts through their continuous research program pertaining to mushroom science in last two decades. They revealed the need of mushroom cultivation along with their cultivation technology and health benefits in the press conference. They also narrated the future activities of the firm.