Mushrooming popularity

KOCHI: Mushroom farming is here to stay. There has been a substantial increase in the number of households in Kochi cultivating mushrooms owing to its culinary and nutritional benefits. One major advantage is that it can be grown indoors. Magi Tony from Palachode in Kakkanad has been cultivating mushrooms for the last two years. “It is a profitable business, if one does it with dedication," she says. "Space required is less. The demand has increased these days because of its medicinal values." Magi has been growing two varieties: oyster and milky. The prices vary with the type. It usually ranges from Rs 150 to Rs 200 per kilo.Since they are indoor crops, mushrooms have to be cultivated in places where there is no direct sunlight. "Different types of compost can be used," says Magi. "I apply straw as the surface mulch. For milky mushrooms, around 25 days are required to harvest it, while for oyster mushrooms, more than one month is required.” Coco peat and sawdust can also be used as the surface peat.Neelakandan from Perumbavoor, who has been into mushroom cultivation for the last six years, says that the cultivation of oyster mushrooms are far more profitable since it is more in demand. "Oyster farming is more suitable for our climate," says another grower, Shine from Elamakkara.The Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council (VFPCK) is providing mushroom spawns to boost mushroom farming. Indu K Paul, deputy manager, VFPCK, says, "We are supplying 5,000 packets of mushroom spawns to the growers from all parts of the state. There has been a good demand. People from far-off places including Idukki are purchasing spawns. We are also providing training every month on how to cultivate mushrooms. We are supplying both varieties. The milky variety has better keeping quality which can be kept for three days, while oyster can be kept only for three hours.”