Prof Javaid Mugloo advocates for mushroom cultivation to empower rural youth

PULWAMA: KVK Malangpora in Pulwama district of south Kashmir has launched two skill development training programs for mushroom growers in the region, aimed at empowering rural youth and enhancing livelihood opportunities.
The first program, titled “Year Round Mushroom Cultivation,” is sponsored by the District Administration Pulwama under the AVSAR Scheme. The second program, titled “Mushroom Cultivation for Livelihood Generation,” is sponsored by MANAGE Hyderabad under the STRY program for Rural Youth. Both programs, lasting seven days each, are conducted in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and JKNRLM Pulwama.
Twenty-five participants registered with the Department of Agriculture as Mushroom growers enrolled for the first training, while thirty-two SHG members associated with JKNRLM enrolled for the second program. The objective behind these initiatives is to enhance the skills of mushroom growers and prepare youth for mushroom farming as a self-employment opportunity.
The inaugural session witnessed the presence of key officials including Sajad Ahmad (Divisional Forest Officer Awantipora), District Agriculture Officers, Mushroom Development Officer Pulwama, Prof and Head, and Scientists of KVK Pulwama. During the event, attendees were advised to utilize Custom Hiring Centers for better remuneration and to make government schemes more impactful at the grassroots level.
Dr. Javaid Ahmad Mugloo, Prof and Head of KVK/ETC Malangpora, emphasized the role of KVK in skill development and employment generation. He expressed gratitude to the District Administration Pulwama and MANAGE Hyderabad for their support. Showket Ahmad, Mushroom Development Officer Pulwama, delivered a presentation on button mushroom cultivation, while Dr. Waseem Ali Dar elaborated on mushroom cultivation as an agribusiness.
Professor Javaid Ahmad Mugloo highlighted the importance of mushroom cultivation for its nutritional value and the high demand in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu regions. He emphasized the need to involve rural youth to boost production and create employment opportunities in the sector. The training programs aim to equip participants with the necessary skills to establish their own mushroom production units, supported by hand-holding assistance under various schemes.

BILAL HABIB