HP scientists grow organic mushroom

After five-year trials, scientists in Himachal Pradesh say they have started growing organic mushroom for the first time in India.

"This is the first successful effort in the world to produce organic mushroom free from pesticides and chemical fertilisers," said BL Dhar, a senior scientist at the National Research Centre for Mushroom (NRCM).

The NRCM is a premier mushroom research centre of the country, located in Solan, which is also called the mushroom city of India.

"Until now it was thought that the compost used to grow mushroom could not be free from pesticides or chemical fertilisers, but we have produced eight crops completely free from pesticides and chemicals," Dhar said.

"A residue analysis of the mushroom proves beyond doubt that it is a pure organic mushroom," said Dhar.

Dhar and four scientists say precautions need to be taken while growing the vegetable so that infection doesn't enter the mushroom beds.

"This compost is produced with cotton seed and a host of other natural products. Even though it is expensive to produce this compost, since organic mushroom fetches more than twice the price in the market, it will not be a deterrent for farmers to switch to growing in this new way," he said.

"Our findings found mention at the recently held 16th mushroom Congress in Florida," said Dhar.

A couple of local companies in Solan have started producing this much-needed natural base mushroom.Farmers will soon be trained to produce organic mushroom for the first time in the country.