Bhagalpur: Farmers in Bihar are being given a fresh opportunity to increase their income as the state horticulture department launches a scheme to promote mushroom cultivation in Bhagalpur. The programme will provide training, mushroom kits and financial assistance to farmers who wish to adopt this form of farming. Officials said the aim is to create employment in rural areas while also strengthening the economic condition of small and marginal farmers. Mushroom cultivation has grown popular in recent years because of its high returns, drawing in both seasoned and first-time cultivators.
Under the scheme, farmers will be supplied with kits of Kisan Button, Oyster and Bucket mushrooms. Each farmer can receive a minimum of 25 kits and a maximum of 100 kits, with the district set a target of distributing 12,500 kits. The department has also made provisions for mushroom huts, where cultivation can be carried out in controlled conditions. The total cost of a hut has been fixed at Rs 1,79,500, of which farmers will be given 50% support – amounting to Rs 89,750. Officials confirmed that one hut will be sanctioned per farmer, covering an area of 1,500 square feet.
To ensure successful implementation, the scheme will also offer training to 100 farmers in modern mushroom production techniques. Farmers who benefit from the subsidy will be required to procure essential materials such as straw, spawn, poly bags and tools once their huts are ready. Authorities said a total of 15 huts are planned for construction in the district under this phase of the project. The scheme will be carried out on a first-come-first-served basis, encouraging farmers to register early for maximum benefit.
Officials highlighted that the wider goal is not only to increase mushroom output but also to create a sustainable source of self-employment for rural men and women. By linking production to the growing demand of entrepreneurs and buyers in the market, the department hopes to ensure that mushrooms are both profitable for farmers and readily available to consumers. With this initiative, the government expects not just to improve household incomes but also to give a new boost to Bihar’s rural economy.
