ICAR-IIHR conducted a 3 days special training course for Krishi vigyaan Kendras (KVKs) from 09th Aug to 11th Aug, 2021 on 'Road map for KVKs to enhance mushroom production and consumption' by adopting the online delivery format. ICAR-IIHR developed a specialized online module integrating power point lecture visuals and relevant stepwise practical videos for better understanding. The purpose of this training was to create a technical roadmap for KVKs to make them the hub for quality spawn production and Ready to fruit (RTF) bag production so that they can become the facilitators in enhancing mushroom production and consumption & escalate mushroom technology to rural areas to empower rural women, youth and SHGs for creating livelihood skills, rural agripreneurship and prevention of rural to urban migration. The module comprised of lectures and videos on mushroom spawn production, Commercial mushroom varieties, RTF technology for marginal, landless & women empowerment, Linkage with SHGs, Infrastructure requirement & machinery for establishment of spawn and RTF unit outdoor mobile structure, Terrace Garden structure, Value addition, Marketing & Entrepreneurship through mushroom technology, Creating linkage models, Raising funds to create Mushroom hub at KVKs and Mushrooms for socially marginalized sector. During the plenary session Director, IIHR and ATARI directors of different zones deliberated on establishment of quality spawn production laboratory in all the ATARI zones. It was suggested to identify 4-5 proactive KVKs in each ATARI zone to submit a project proposal for financial assistance to create necessary infrastructure; to MIDH with technical guidance of ICAR-IIHR.
The schedule comprised of 5 hours of online theory and integrated videos on practical each day. Fifteen hours of lectures were delivered. One hundred ninety three KVK staff from 11 different 11 ATARI zones from all over India participated in the program.
