The mushroom villages will be set up in 50 seats across Kerala in the second phase of the State Gardening Mission-Kerala (SHM-Kerala) program, which aims to attract farmers and entrepreneurs to grow mushrooms.
The scheme, the comprehensive development of fungi in Kerala, is aimed at strengthening the position of rural women, generating revenue for farmers, nutritional security and focus on business opportunities in mushroom growing, said Saji John, Director of the mission, SHM-Keral.
The “mushroom village” consists of 100 small fungi production units, two large production units, one unit for seed production, three processing units, two packaging houses, ten compost units and educational programs. The state government had previously cleaned the proposal to establish 100 such villages in Kerala under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (Rkvy).
First phase
In Phase 1, the program was launched in selected blocks in 20 constituencies. “Phase 1 started in 2024-25. This phase will be completed this year,” said Mr. John.
In the second phase, villages in selected agricultural blocks are planned by mushrooms in election districts 50. Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur Districts will have five villages, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha and Kottayam four and Kollam and Ernacula, each three. Each village is planned in idukki and barraragod and each in Pathanamthitta and Wayanad. According to SHM-keral, six other fungi will be set up.
Health food
In recent years, mushrooms have become more popular as a healthy food. The mushrooms of buttons are most cultivated in India.
In Kerala, according to SHM-keral officials, mushrooms, milk mushrooms and unpeeled straw are best suitable for cultivation in state climatic conditions. Among the mushrooms of oysters are the main varieties Pleurotus Florida, Pleurotus Sajor-Caju and Pleurotus Eous.
Published – 27 July 2025 20:02
