Augmenting income and employment through mushroom production: A micro level study of Samastipur district of Bihar (India)

Abstract

Mushroom is considered as future vegetable. The present investigation was carried out in Pusa and Kalyanpur blocks of Samastipur district of Bihar to assess the income and employment pattern of mushroom cultivators. Simple tabular analysis was done to fulfill the objective of the investigation. Results revealed that, on an average, comparatively large portion of income (37.74%) was obtained from mushroom production followed by crop production (22.59%). Farm category wise analysis revealed that mushroom production was most important source of income to the mushroom growing households contributing 13.18%, 16.30%, 19.16% and 15.31% of total income of small, medium, large and for overall mushroom growing households respectively. The result reflected that average per household income was Rs. 72492.02. Farm size wise income was also computed and it was estimated to be Rs. 53167.91 for small, Rs. 63491.34 for medium and for large farm it was Rs. 100816.8. The results indicated that with increase in farm size the income also increased. Further, it was also observed that, on an average, total employment days of mushroom growers was comparatively large, that is 106.62 man days (42.09%) in crop production followed by mushroom cultivation (38.80 man days i.e. 15.31 percent). Mushroom production emerged as the next most important activity occupying second rank in providing employment. Mushroom is efficient means for conversion of agricultural wastes into valuable protein and presents huge potential for generating additional income and employment. In India, the full potential of mushroom cultivation is yet to be explored. Creating awareness among the farmers about the benefits of mushroom production, creating awareness among the consumers about the nutritional and health benefits of mushroom and imparting training to the farmers may go a long way in promoting mushroom production