Jammu: Mushroom cultivation is becoming an increasingly profitable venture for farmers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, offering steady earnings and attracting new entrants, including unemployed youth.
With the crop growing well throughout the year and requiring comparatively low investment, many traditional farmers are now considering shifting from conventional agriculture to mushroom production. The reliable returns have encouraged several growers to expand their operations.
Joginder, a beneficiary under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP), is among those who have experienced a significant change in livelihood through mushroom farming. HADP, an initiative of the Jammu & Kashmir Agriculture Production Department, aims to enhance agricultural profitability, sustainability, and resilience in the region.
Starting this year, Joginder ventured into mushroom cultivation with support from the scheme. The department supplied him with 1,500 bags, enabling him to register a strong harvest in June. He anticipates a similarly productive batch by the end of the year. To manage the operations—from sowing to harvesting—he has also employed several local youths.
“We have established a mushroom unit in Tikari Manthal. The total project cost is Rs 20 lakh, of which we received an Rs 8 lakh subsidy from the Agriculture Department. In the first lot in April, we cultivated 1,500 bags and produced around 40 quintals of mushrooms,” Joginder told IANS.
Mushroom Development Officer Vinod Gupta said the department is promoting continuous mushroom cultivation by providing eligible farmers with units supported by an Rs 8 lakh subsidy, while the remaining Rs 12 lakh is contributed by the beneficiaries. He noted that the scheme is particularly focused on helping unemployed youth create sustainable income sources and encouraging wider adoption of mushroom farming.
