Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Aug 26: Amasebail village of the taluk is always in the limelight for various kinds of innovative reforms. Though it is a very remote place, there is no dearth for adventurists in this village. Thammaiah Naika, resident of Kelasunka and progressive farmer has started a mushroom producing unit and has found success in it.

Chethan Kumar, agricultural officer of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala rural development project, who saw the dedication of Thammaiah, instilled the interest of mushroom farming in him. Thammaiah immediately contacted the horticulture department. They also gave lots of guidance and information. He was further assisted by Pratap Chandra Shetty of farmers’ association, Sanjeeva Naika of horticulture department and Madhukar.

A mushroom producing unit was built at a cost of Rs 20 lac. As the temperature control is vital in the unit air-conditioning controlled dark room, a room for joining the mushroom chain, boiler to boil the grass and other infrastructure was also erected. Amasebail agricultural coop society provided a loan of Rs 15 lac. Horticulture department provided training and seeds at their center at Shivamogga. Finally, the mushroom producing unit started functioning at Kalsanka two months ago.

Now Thammaiah is getting a yield of 10 kg of mushroom per day. He is selling that in local market at the rate of Rs 200 per kg. The aim is to produce 25 kg of mushroom per day. But to achieve that goal quality of seeds should be good according to Thammaiah.

Technicality, sensitivity and scientific knowledge is very important in the cultivation of mushrooms. Thammaiah is doing oyster type of mushrooms. The seeds have to be kept for 21 days at a temperature of 24 deg C and later the bag needs to be hung in the room which has room temperature of 28 deg C. This room needs to be spotlessly clean and no one should be allowed to enter that room. While entering one needs to clean hands and legs using prescribed soap oil. If fungus gets generated in the farming of mushroom the total crop will be destroyed.

Thammaiah is a model to other farmers in mushroom farming. He can be contacted on mobile 9483408412.