Director Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Jammu S. Arvinder Singh Reen inaugurated the first harvest of the Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes), here today at the Shiitake lab of the Spawn Production Office, Krishi Bhawan.
Shiitake mushrooms, known for their rare medicinal properties including anti-cancer, immune-boosting, and anti-allergic effects, require a specialized cultivation environment. These mushrooms can only grow on sawdust blocks made from hardwood, with a cultivation cycle ranging from 120 to 180 days and a biological efficiency of 20-30% on a wet weight basis.
In his address, Director S. Arvinder Singh Reen emphasized the immense potential of Shiitake mushroom cultivation as a high-value crop for Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that this initiative will not only foster employment generation but also open new avenues for startups, particularly among the region’s unemployed youth.
Additionally, the project supports the diversification of existing mushroom cultivation activities within the UT. The key raw material for Shiitake cultivation is sawdust, and Jammu and Kashmir is uniquely positioned to benefit from this, with its abundant supply of sawdust and Wooden Chips generated by the Jammu and Kashmir's cricket bat industry.
Furthermore, the ideal temperature range of 20-28°C (68-82°F) for Shiitake growth is well-suited to the region's climate, making it an ideal location for large-scale production. The Directorate of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Jammu has successfully initiated the commercial cultivation of Shiitake mushrooms for the first time in the region.
The Spawn Production Laboratory at Talab Tillo Jammu has successfully achieved spawn production and spawn run, following the protocols established by the Directorate of Mushroom Research, Chamba Ghat, Solan (H.P).
Additionally, 1,000 ready-to-fruit blocks have been procured from District Project Manager-JICA, ODA Palampur, and are being supplied to progressive mushroom growers and DCTCs across the Jammu Province to encourage commercial cultivation of Shiitake mushrooms.
Fruit initiation in these blocks has also been successfully achieved across the Jammu division. The programme was attended by Deputy Director Central Dr. Ashwani Sharma, Agriculture Chemist Dr. Aman Jyoti Sharma, Spawn Production Officer Verinder Dogra, Mushroom Development Officer Raghubir Pal Kochar, SMS-RL Dharmesh Vaid, SMS-SDL Kewal Krishan Sharma, along with the staff from the Spawn Production and Mushroom Development Offices.
This groundbreaking project is poised to pave the way for sustainable agricultural practices, increased employment opportunities, and a prosperous future for the mushroom cultivation industry in Jammu and Kashmir.