How mushroom cultivation is building a future for women entrepreneurs of Northeast India

Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) under the aegis of the Ministry of DONER with an aim to empower Nari Shakti through skill development has helped women living in rural areas of the North Eastern regions to earn their livelihood through mushroom cultivation.

It all started with the NERCRMS giving training to a Women's self-help group- Banchung for mushroom cultivation. 

This group is from Changlang District in Arunachal Pradesh. The group was formed in January 2016 with a total of 20 female members. This group belongs to the Singpho tribe.

In this area, mushroom cultivation is growing rapidly, with the produce fetching good returns in the market. The oyster mushroom is one of the most suitable fungal organisms for producing protein-rich food from various agricultural wastes without composting. Starting oyster mushroom production requires training and preparation.

Initially, the group was not aware of its activity and how to ensure its sustainability. In the year 2016, after the project's implementation, the group learned about its process and activities and later became a part of it. A total of Rs 1,22,000 (2016 to 2020) was received through the Revolving Fund, where the group began with pickle making, weaving, and mushroom cultivation.

In the first week of September 2019, the group was trained on mushroom cultivation by Bad M Bhejega from Mohong village at Kherem Bisa. The group members actively participated during the training. 

Later, in January 2020, through the training and with the support of the revolving fund, the group started mushroom cultivation with an amount of Rs 7000 spent towards buying mushroom spawn, packaging plastic, rubber, and pipe spray.

After two months, mushrooms begin to sell at a wholesale market price of Rs 150 to Rs 160/kg and occasionally at a retail market price of Rs 200. Over a month and a half, they sold 17 kg at a wholesale price of Rs 2870 and 60 kg at retail with a sale price of Rs 12000. The total amount sold was Rs 14870, with a profit of Rs 14870.

The group expressed its sincere gratitude to the project for its theoretical and financial support received through NERCRMS, by developing and enhancing the skills of rural women by providing knowledge about mushroom cultivation for income generation.