Bareilly: In a bid to promote self-employment and enhance farmers’ income, the Department of Plant Science at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University organized a training camp on oyster mushroom cultivation in Miyudi Khurd village under Bhuta थाना. The programme was conducted in collaboration with GFE Enterprises.
The initiative was part of an ongoing series of training camps being conducted under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor K. P. Singh to encourage rural entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Hands-On Training for Farmers
The session was led by Vijay Kumar Sinhal, Associate Professor and mushroom expert from the Plant Science Department. He provided practical training on oyster mushroom cultivation techniques, including preparation of cultivation bags, maintenance, and harvesting.
Villagers actively participated in the hands-on session, where they prepared mushroom cultivation bags themselves. These bags were later distributed free of cost among participants through local teacher and progressive farmer Krishna Pal Singh to encourage adoption of the practice.
High Profit, Low Cost Farming Opportunity
Highlighting the economic potential, Dr. Sinhal explained that oyster mushroom cultivation requires a minimal investment of ₹10–15 per kilogram, while the market price currently ranges between ₹120 and ₹150 per kilogram in local vegetable markets.
“This makes mushroom cultivation a highly profitable venture for farmers, significantly boosting their income,” he said, adding that he has been working for the past eight years to establish a reliable market for oyster mushrooms.
He also informed farmers about various value-added products derived from mushrooms and assured them of buy-back support. Several companies have shown interest in procuring oyster mushrooms, with GFE Enterprises emerging as a key buyer.
Awareness on Government Schemes
The training camp was attended by District Commandant Rajmani Singh as the chief guest, who briefed villagers about various government schemes aimed at rural development and farmer welfare.
Community Participation Key to Success
The आयोजन saw strong local participation, facilitated by community members and leaders including Krishna Pal Singh, Dilip Patel, former village head Bhagwan Das, Pratap Singh Fauji, Raghuraj Singh, Shivdatt Singh, Mahesh Singh, Gajendra Singh, Pushpendra Singh, Omkar, Vishesh Patel, Munshi Lal, Naubat Singh, Tarachand, and Jang Bahadur Singh.
Boost to Rural Livelihoods
The initiative is expected to empower farmers with an additional source of income while promoting low-cost, sustainable agricultural practices. By linking training with assured market access, the programme aims to create a replicable model for rural entrepreneurship in Uttar Pradesh.
Such efforts by Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University highlight the growing role of academic institutions in driving grassroots innovation and strengthening the rural economy.
