Jammu, January 2: In a significant step towards agricultural innovation and diversification, the Director of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Jammu, S. Arvinder Singh Reen, inaugurated the first-ever harvest of Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) at the Shiitake Lab of the Spawn Production Office, Krishi Bhawan.
Renowned for their exceptional medicinal properties, including anti-cancer, immune-boosting, and anti-allergic effects, Shiitake mushrooms require a highly specialised cultivation process. These mushrooms thrive on sawdust blocks made from hardwood, with a cultivation cycle lasting 120-180 days and a biological efficiency of 20-30% (wet weight basis).
Addressing the gathering, Director S. Arvinder Singh Reen highlighted the vast potential of Shiitake mushroom cultivation as a high-value crop for the region. He emphasised that this initiative is a milestone for Jammu and Kashmir, offering a pathway to employment generation, entrepreneurship, and diversification of existing agricultural practices. He particularly noted its potential to empower the region’s unemployed youth by fostering innovative startups.
Jammu and Kashmir’s abundant sawdust supply—largely derived from the cricket bat manufacturing industry—and its favourable climatic conditions (20-28°C) make the region ideally suited for large-scale Shiitake mushroom production.
The Directorate of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Jammu has spearheaded this groundbreaking initiative, successfully achieving spawn production and cultivation protocols in collaboration with the Directorate of Mushroom Research, Chamba Ghat, Solan (H.P). Additionally, 1,000 ready-to-fruit blocks procured from the District Project Manager-JICA, ODA Palampur, are being distributed to progressive mushroom growers and DCTCs across the Jammu division. The success of fruit initiation in these blocks marks a new chapter for mushroom cultivation in the region.
This pioneering project is expected to revolutionise sustainable agricultural practices in Jammu and Kashmir. By unlocking the potential of Shiitake mushroom cultivation, it promises to create new employment opportunities, promote economic growth, and position the region as a hub for high-value agricultural products.