Mushrooms have been valued throughout the world for their medicinal value and as a food for thousands of years. They are a rich source of nutrition with less fat and they also consist predominantly of unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid. Hence mushroom is considered as the perfect food for maintaining a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.
Mushroom cultivation has become a very lucrative pursuit in recent years, with more and more people turning to it and striking gold. In addition to that, understanding its remunerative potential, the centre and state agricultural departments have also been vociferously endorsing mushroom farming.
The Department of Biotechnology, Al-Ameen College, Edathala started mushroom cultivation during the academic year 2019-20. Prior to that the department also started a certificate course on mushroom production technology with an objective to induce self directed and experiential learning among students. The guidelines for mushroom production was provided by Mr. Sreekumar, Veggie White Mushrooms, Perumbavoor. Veggie White also provided a one day workshop on mushroom cultivation. 75 students participated in the workshop.
Later the department decided to start mushroom production. Ms.Sanooja MS was the Team Leader for the mission. Oyster mushrooms with high nutritional quality were cultivated in the department unit. Initially 25 beds were maintained and harvested. Mushrooms were made available to different departments and to the college employees in a packet of 100 gm and 250 gm with fixed rates.
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