Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Shivam Dhiman, Ruchi Rani Gangwar, Somya Misra, Devesh Kumar Pant and Neha Joshi

Abstract:
In Uttarakhand state, farmer’s income is low due to small, fragmented, and undulated land holdings, inadequate agricultural and marketing facilities, and a high degree of risks and uncertainty in crop cultivation due to rained conditions. As a result, farmers are required to adopt a diversified farming system. Mushroom production may be one of the important subsidiary enterprises for raising the income of the farmers. In view of this scenario, the present study was conducted in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand and 60 farmers were selected randomly from the study area during agriculture year 2018-19. The study examined cost of and returns from mushroom cultivation and resource use efficiency was also worked out in the study. The study revealed that the cost of production per bag was Rs. 134.08 against the yield 2.134 kg per bag. The net return from mushroom production was Rs. 58 per kg. The study further indicated that resource use efficiency was more than unity for most of the resources expects labours, which suggested the under-utilization of these resources. The study concluded that in view of low level of farm income and employment in agriculture of Dehradun District, mushroom production may serve as an important source for generating additional income and utilizes surplus family labour during the lean period.