Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Neelu Vishwakarma, Dinesh Kumar Singh, Alpana Sharma, Akshata Tomar and Rashmi Shukla

Abstract:
Mushroom production in rural and semi-urban areas offers a simple and affordable way to combat poverty and create employment for educated unemployed youth. A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of training on knowledge gain in mushroom production as a self-employment opportunity. The training program focused on farmers, farm women, and youths interested in pursuing mushroom production. Participants received comprehensive training on cultivation techniques, spawn preparation, substrate preparation, marketing, preservation, and value addition. Out of 125 participants (93 men and 32 women) who completed the five courses, significant improvements were observed in knowledge acquisition. After training, 73.6% of trainees demonstrated improved understanding of different types of mushrooms 75.2% gained knowledge nutrition and health benefits, harvesting methods and preparation of compost 76.8% recognized the preparation of compost. Overall, the study concludes that the training effectively increased participants' knowledge in all aspects of mushroom production, highlighting the potential for successful self-employment in this field.