Patna: In many villages across the block, a quiet but powerful change is taking place. Women who were once limited to household work are now running their own small businesses through mushroom farming. Supported by the Jeevika self-help groups, they have learned how to grow mushrooms at very low cost and in a short period of time. This simple form of farming is helping them earn money, support their families and become more confident in their daily lives.
Mushroom cultivation does not require large land or heavy investment. Women can grow butter and oyster mushrooms inside small rooms, sheds or even unused corners of their homes. The crop is ready in just a few weeks and can be sold easily in nearby markets. Because of this, many women have started seeing profits within three months. The steady demand for mushrooms has made this work both reliable and encouraging.
Kiran Devi from Siswar village in Kudari panchayat is one of the women who has benefited from this initiative. After receiving training and technical guidance from her Jeevika group, she began growing butter mushrooms on a small scale. At first, she was unsure, but now her production is regular and local traders come directly to her village to buy the harvest. She says that she no longer has to depend on anyone for her household needs and feels proud to earn on her own.
Many other women share similar stories. Tetra Devi from Jalalpur panchayat, Parmila Devi and Kanti Devi from Pali village have also started cultivating butter mushrooms. They say this work has given them a new identity and boosted their self-confidence. In Pasai panchayat, Sunita Devi of Majhiyav village and Leelavathi Devi of Hudra village in Kharenda panchayat are growing oyster mushrooms, which are easier to manage and grow quickly.
Under the Jeevika project, women are given proper training, seeds, fertilisers and technical support. According to Jeevika’s block programme manager, Anil Kumar Choubey, more women will be added to this scheme in the coming months and the marketing system will be improved. Apart from income, mushroom farming is also improving nutrition in rural areas. For these women, mushrooms are not just a crop – they are a symbol of hope, independence and a better future.
