Constrains of mushroom production in Srilanka

Introduction

What is  mushroom?

Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies produced by some fungi. Not all fruit bodies are true mushrooms. Puffballs and morels are edible fruit bodies that are sometimes called "mushrooms".

Mushrooms are very nutritious products that can be generated from lignocellulosic waste materials; and are in rich in crude fibre and protein. In fact, mushrooms also contain low fat, low calories and good vitamins. In addition, many mushrooms possess multi-functional medicinal properties

The ancient Egyptians believed mushrooms were the plant of immortality, and mushrooms fulfilled their nutrient requirement to keep the body healthy. Mushrooms have long been celebrated as a source of powerful nutrients.

Mushrooms come in many varieties and their nutritional values slightly differ from each other. Today, with the development of better technologies, scientists have found their real composition and nutritive values. So, mushrooms have come to occupy an important place in modern day diet. in several parts of the world.

The reservoir of edible mushrooms, like other micro-organisms of use for industrial purposes, is not unlimited. It is generally recognised that in order to maintain and breed high-yielding strains, the techniques employed in mushroom breeding should now and then be modified and improved in accordance with new findings and progress in the scientific world as a whole, and in microbiology and genetics in particular.

Significance of mushrooms cultivation

(1). Mushrooms can convert lignocellulosic waste materials into a wide diversity of products.

 (2). Mushrooms are relatively fast growing organisms.

(3). Mushroom cultivation can be labour intensive.

 (4). While land availability is usually a limiting factor in most types of primary production

 (5). Mushrooms have been accepted as human food from times immemorial, and can immediately supply additional protein to human food

(6). Edible mushrooms should be treated as healthy vegetables.

(7). In view of their pleasing flavour, their high protein, and tonic and medicinal values, mushrooms no doubt represent one of the world’s greatest untapped resources of nutritious and palatable food for the future

How to Identify Mushrooms

Appearance

Many mushrooms bear a superficial resemblance to one another. Through education and careful observation, collectors learn to distinguish species. You may need to collect both young and old mushrooms from a cluster or group to identify a species. Some important features may only be present at one stage of development.

Habitat and Substrate

Mushrooms are found almost everywhere, but not all mushrooms are found in all kinds of habitat. Where they grow, such as coniferous forest, oak forest, etc., is the mushrooms' habitat. Some mushrooms develop in only one kind of habitat, such as a bog, a forest, or an open lawn or meadow. What they actually emerge from, such as peat, a log, or soil, is the mushrooms' substrate.

Spore Prints

Information about the structure and color of a mushroom's spore deposit helps in identification. Most spores are too small to be examined without the help of a microscope. Collectors can discover the spores' color by making a spore print.
Cut the stem off the cap and place the cap gill side down on a piece of white paper. If the gills are light-colored, placing a wedge of dark paper under part of the cap will help show the print of the light-colored spores. The cap must remain moist. Store the mounted cap in a plastic sandwich bag or a container with a lid.

Advantages of Mushroom Growing

Ø  Involvement of small initial capital

Ø  Possible production all the year round

Ø  Use of Agricultural waste as substrate- mostly waste materials from farms, plantations or factories

Ø  Is a Biodegrader hence environmental con-server

Ø  Low production cost

Ø  Nutritional content

Ø  Better  livelihood

Ø  High market demand

Ø  Simple method

Consumption benefits of mushrooms

Ø  Healthy (not use agro chemicals)

Ø  Bitter taste

Ø  Better meal for vegetarians

Ø  Contain all essential amino acids

Ø  Has Vit.C, cynocobalimin (Vit,B12) content found only in animal products

Ø  Low in sodium ideal for people with heart and kidney ointments.

Ø  Have iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and folic acid.

Ø Mushrooms contain just as high an antioxidant capacity

Ø The fiber, potassium and vitamin C content in mushrooms all contribute to cardiovascular health.

                             

When we consider about this important mushroom cultivation it has deferent kind of constrains for  development of this cultivation. So lets discus about what are the major constrain effect for this mushroom cultivation.

·         Capital cost

Required isolated building ,racks other essentional material for this cultivation.

In this case although there are some farmers willing to start a mushroom cultivation  they abandon this idea.

As solutions

·         Introduce bank loan system for farmers with reasonable interest rate.

·         Link with agriculture department

Agriculture department is conducting different programme related with this subject. Ex;

      mushroom cultivation society with revolving founds

      subsidy programme

       demonstrations programme

·         Lack of skills on mushroom production

This is one of the major constrain against development of mushroom cultivation. Because proper  knowledge is a essential factor for get high yield.

As solutions

·         Provide booklet with related to how to produce mushrooms.

·         Provide proper training

·         Share knowledge from mushrooms farmers in area

·         Lack of quality mushroom spawn

Who are the farmers involving in this cultivation in currently this is a one of problem caused to discourage of those farmers about this cultivation. And this packet of spawn are available in few of places only .

As solutions   

§   Enhance distribution process through out the country

§  Motive for farmers/company for spawn production

·         Traditional believes

Some persons are believe this cultivation is causes for arrived of snake like animals.

And it causes for respiratory disease.

·         Lack of awareness of  benefits of mushroom

Mushroom cultivation is a most profitable business. When we consider about production cost of mushroom cultivation there is a  low cost compare with others.

Most of material possible to get at low cost.

Solutions

§  Make awareness programe through societies

·         Production process

In mushroom production process assist essential different practices. some farmers are weak to do such king of practices.

Solutions

§  Introduce new technologies

·         Lack of market

When we consider about our country there is good demand for mushroom in some particular area. But in some area has low demand for mushrooms.

Solutions

§  Introduce new buyers

      Ex-cargills

·         Mushrooms not possible to keeping over 3 days in refrigerators also. as a reason  may be loss the profit of farmers.

Solutions

§  Introduce new conservation method.

§  Promote value added products