KARGIL: The Department of Agriculture, Kargil, on Thursday distributed button mushroom cultivation units, including 2,400 compost bags, quality mushroom spawn and casing material, among progressive farmers and Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil subsidy scheme to promote mushroom farming as an alternative source of income.
The initiative, aimed at encouraging sustainable and remunerative agricultural enterprises, was inaugurated by Executive Councillor for Agriculture Aga Syed Mujtaba Musavi in the presence of Chief Agriculture Officer, Kargil, and Principal Scientist Dr Mohd Mehdi.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Musavi said button mushroom cultivation offers considerable potential for income generation and livelihood diversification, particularly for rural youth and women. He urged farmers to adopt scientific cultivation practices to improve productivity and maximise returns, while appreciating the Agriculture Department’s efforts to encourage innovative farming practices across the district.
As part of the programme, cultivation inputs comprising around 2,400 compost bags, mushroom spawn and casing material were distributed to beneficiary farmers and SHGs from different parts of Kargil to enable them to undertake button mushroom cultivation during the current growing season.
Before the distribution, the department organised a training-cum-demonstration to familiarise participants with scientific mushroom cultivation techniques. Assistant Soil Chemist Mohd Hussain, District Agriculture Officer Razia Banoo and Principal Scientist Dr Akhon Mehdi conducted technical sessions covering spawning methods, compost preparation and management, casing operations and other essential cultivation practices required for successful button mushroom production.
Officials said the training was intended to equip farmers with practical knowledge to improve crop performance and enhance the commercial viability of mushroom cultivation.
The Department of Agriculture reiterated its commitment to providing continued technical guidance and institutional support to farmers with the objective of expanding mushroom cultivation across Kargil, strengthening farm incomes and promoting sustainable agricultural development in the district.
