Indian Mushroom in the Global Market: Is India Falling Behind?

A griculture and human evolution are intertwined deeply.

- C S. Keerthana , Muskan Beura ,  Archana Singh , Anil Dahuja, Veda Krishnan .

 

There has been a transition from nomadic hunters and gatherers to settled populations ever since plants and animals were domesticated. This ushered in the era of agriculture, which continues to be the foundation of the global economy. Many of the common crops that are grown now have their origins in prehistoric periods, and their production quality has improved as a result of research and development in diverse farming methods. One such blooming field is Mushroom cultivation. India being a primary agricultural nation with more than 50% of its population is employed in this sector, it has a great scope in mushroom production. During off seasons, mushrooms are cultivated by farmers as income boosters. It is a dependable and efficient technique for resource-constrained growers to produce nutritious food in a short period of time and it offers the possibility of producing a highly marketable and value added products which accounts towards revenue generation.

With the advancements in modern technologies, mushrooms can be grown in any part of the country year round. The major varieties grown commercially are button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, paddy straw mushrooms and the medicinal varieties cultivated are Hericium (lion's mane), Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms. Where does India stand in the Global mushroom market?