Regional mushroom mela and kisan goshthi:Enabling farmers to access technology

and advisory services

Mahantesh ShirurScientist

Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan, India

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Background

• The idea of organising National MushroomMela was conceived with multiple objectivesduring 1990s

• National mela attained popularity amongmushroom entrepreneurs across India

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National to Regional Mela: Shift inapproach

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National to Regional Mela: Shift inapproach

Difference National Mushroom Mela Regional Mushroom Mela

Place of Mela DMR, Solan Among cluster of mushroomgrowers

Emphasis Cultivation technology Cultivation technologyAdvisory Advisory

Mushroom consumption

Shift One day mela Week long survey before melato assess the local problems

Timing 10th

September each year Synchronous with peakcropping activity

Resources DMR, Solan DMR, Solan with involvementfrom local growers and linedepartments

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Regional mushroom melasSl. Month Details of the event Host of the event Place and state

No and Year1 January, Regional mushroom mela K S Chauhan, Aterna village, Sonepat

2010 and Kisan Goshthi progressive farmer, District, (Haryana)

mushroom grower2 January, Regional mushroom mela Vijender Dhankad Gannaur village, Sonepat

2010 and Kisan Goshthi progressive farmer, district, (Haryana)

mushroom grower3 February, Regional mushroom mela Harsunjith Singh Thiara, Thiara mushroom farm,

2011 and mushroom Progressive mushroom Khanpura village, Dt

consumption fair grower Hoshiarpur (Punjab)4 February, Regional mushroom mela HAIC (Cooperating Haryana Agro Industrial

2011 and mushroom centre of DMR, Solan) Corporation, Murthal

consumption fair (Haryana)5 October, Regional mushroom mela Department of Krishi Bhavan, Talab tillo,

2011 and kisan Goshthi Agriculture, Govt. of Jammu (Jammu &J&K Kashmir)

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Participants’ profileSl. Place and state By gender By age group in years TotalNo participant

Male Female 15-35 36-50 51 or abovefarmers

1 Aterna village, 224 (91.80) 20 (8.20) 118 (48.36) 83 (34.02) 43 (17.62)Sonepat District,

(Haryana) 2442 Gannaur village, 206 (92.79) 16 (7.21) 101 (45.50) 68 (30.63) 53 (23.87)

Sonepat district,

(Haryana) 2223 Thiara mushroom 150 (82.42) 32 (17.58) 74 (40.66) 66 (36.26) 42 (23.08)

farm, Khanpuravillage, Dt

Hoshiarpur (Punjab) 1824 Haryana Agro 325 (91.04) 35 (9.80) 171 (47.90) 126 (35.29) 60 (16.81)

IndustrialCorporation,

Murthal (Haryana) 3575 Krishi Bhavan, 230 (91.63) 21 (8.37) 112 (44.62) 96 (38.25) 43 (17.13)

Talab tillo, Jammu(Jammu &

Kashmir) 251

Total 1135 124 576 439 241 6

Participants’ profile

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Chief source of information about mela for participants

8%

12%

37%DMR

4% Dept officials

News paper

Neighbours

Others

39%

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Perception and feedback ofparticipants about regional

mushroom mela

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Timing of the mela was good I got benefitted from the mela90.00%

82.24%

80.00%

70.00%69.34%

62.24%58.57%60.00%

51.15%

50.00% 48.85%

41.43%37.76%40.00%

30.66%30.00%

20.00% 17.76%

10.00%

0.00%At Gan HAIC Jammu Khan

100.00% 93.42% 92.48%

80.00%71.53%

70.00%

60.00%

50.00%

40.00%28.47%30.00%

17.86%21.37%

20.00%6.58% 7.52%10.00%

0.00%At Gan HAIC Jammu Khan

90.00% 82.14%78.63%

Facilities during the mela were good100.00%

93.57%86.86% 86.18% 90.23%

80.00% 69.47%

60.00%

40.00% 30.53%

13.82%20.00%6.43%

13.14% 9.77%No

0.00%YesAt Gan HAIC Jammu Khan

No Yes

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I shall participate in next mela100.00%

88.57% 89.47% 89.47%90.00% 81.68%

77.37%80.00%

70.00%

60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%18.32%

22.63%20.00% 11.43% 10.53% 10.53%10.00%

0.00%At Gan HAIC Jammu Khan

No Yes

100.00%90.00%80.00%70.00%60.00%50.00%40.00%30.00%20.00%10.00%

0.00%

I will recommend to others toattend the mela

92.86% 88.82% 91.73%81.68%

76.64%

23.36%18.32%

No7.14% 11.18% 8.27%

YesAt Gan HAIC Jammu Khan

No Yes11

Overall perception and feedback ofparticipants of regional mushroom mela

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

A. The timing B. Highly C. Shall D. Facilities H. I shallwas appropriate beneficial participate in were good recommend to

future others …Sum of Yes Sum of No

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Suggestions by the participants fororganising regional melas in the future

Plan and organise such event either before the start of the winter

season or immediately after the onset of winter season.

Publicity through television and other news media

Demonstrations of different varieties near the venue were requested

for seeing the results for comparison.

Appreciation or award for a local mushroom growers for innovative

techniques or successful entrepreneurship.

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Few Images from different regional mushroom mela

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Acknowledgments

• Haryana Agro Industrial Corporation, Murthal,Haryana

• Department of Agriculture, Talab tillo, Jammu(Jammu & Kashmir)

• Sh. Kanwal Singh Chauhan, Progressive farmer,mushroom grower, Aterna, Haryana

• Sh. Vijender, Mushroom grower, Gannaur,Sonepat dt, Haryana

• Sh. Harsunjit Singh Tiara, Progressive farmer,mushroom grower, Hoshiarpur, Punjab

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Thank You

11/26/2014 18