Economic Viability of Button Mushroom Cultivation in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The study showed that nearly one-half of the mushroom growers had more than 5 years of experience and nearly one-fourth were new adopters and confined to both middle and aged group with formal primary, matriculation and graduation level education. The business principles like know-how and training with regard to new enterprise prior its adoption followed by a market survey, etc., were given due consideration and nearly 53 per cent of them adopted enterprise with low scale of 50 or even a smaller number of spawned compost bags each weighing 20 kg with average unit investment of Rs 22,306. Majority (91%) of sample units confined to a single crop with average yield of 3.05 kg per spawned compost bag which increased with the size of unit from 3.10 kg on small to 3.40 kg on medium units. The financial test ratios revealed the economic feasibility and profitability of mushroom cultivation on large scale. Inadequate supply of spawned compost bags, lack of remunerative prices and incidence of diseases were reported the major constraints requiring immediate attention of policy makers. For improving productivity, the study recommends the adequate supply of spawned compost bags at the doorsteps of growers at appropriate time and reasonable rates in addition to encouraging them to grow at least two crops per year.