Mushroom cultivation a home business A Presentation By Mr Allah Dad Khan Former Director General Agriculture Extension KPK Province and Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan

2. Mushroom Cultivation:
A Home Business, opportunities
for self-employment for
youth, unemployed
graduates and female
A Lecture
By
Mr.Allah Dad Khan

3. Agriculture Sector of Pakistan
 Agriculture is the key sector of Pakistan’s Economy. This
sector contributes 20.9 percent of the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) in 2014-15 and employs 43.5 percent of
the total work force.
 Agriculture is more important for rural livelihoods since
approximately 70-75% of our population is living in rural
area which depends directly or indirectly on agriculture.
 Agricultural sector is the most significant sector of the
economy and is major source of inputs for agro based
industry.

4. Major and Minor Crops of Pakistan
 The major crops in Pakistan include wheat, cotton, sugarcane, rice, maize,
tobacco. Besides these crops there are several minor crops as well which are
Oilseeds (rapeseed/mustard, sunflower and canola etc.) Masoor, Mung,
Mash, fruites and vegetables.
 Mushroom is relatively new crop in Pakistan. Although the important of
mushroom as a crop is not yet fully realized in Pakistan, however the current
trend of familiarization of the fast food is instrumental in popularization of
mushroom. Also the well-off customers mainly in the urban areas, make use
of mushroom in their diet.

5. Population of Pakistan
 Recently, unemployment is increasing rapidly both in developed and
developing countries. In this situation, self-employment can be one
important way to increase employment rate for small, marginal poor farm
households for generating employment and earning extra money.
 The rate of population growth is still high in developing countries as
compared to developed countries. Pakistan continues to be the sixth most
populous country in the world with 191.71 million projected populations.
Pakistan has the 10th largest labour force in the world. According to the
Labour Force Survey 2013-14, the total labour force in the country is 60.09
million. Out of this, 3.58 million people are unemployed and 56.52 million
people are employed.

6. Mushroom Cultivation: A Home
Business
 Mushroom cultivation activities can play an important
role in supporting the local economy by contributing to
subsistence food security, nutrition, and medicine;
generating additional employment and income through
local, regional and national trade; and offering
opportunities for processing enterprises. Mushroom can
be easily cultivated in home because of followings plus
points.

7.  Mushroom can be easily cultivated in home yard because it requires small
piece of land where mushrooms can be grown.
 Mushroom cultivation requires very little land and can be good source of
employment for small and lanless farmers.
 Indoor cultivation of mushrooms utilizes the vertical space.
 A mushroom farming business can be mean big profits in just a few weeks. In
general, the life cycle of a crop is rather short (varying from some weeks to
a few months).
 Small-scale growing does not include any significant capital investment.

8.  The villagers have benefited not only in terms of increased incomes, but
also through healthier diets as a result of consuming mushrooms.
 Since most of the materials needed for mushroom growing are obtained
locally the cultivation process is economically viable. Composted
substrates: wheat and rice straw, corn cobs, hay, water hyacinth,
composted manure, and various other agricultural by-products including
coffee husks and banana leaves.
 In developing countries mushroom cultivation is gaining more attention as
a possibility to use agricultural wastes, and to help alleviate poverty and
food insecurity.

9.  Mushrooms production can be undertaken as an additional livelihood
activity which fits around other household or productive tasks.
 Trade in cultivated mushrooms can provide a readily available and
important source of cash income - for men and women and the old, infirm
and disabled alike.
 Mushroom growing involves all members of the community. Younger group
members help the older people by preparing the substrates (chopping and
pasteurization) and mixing the spawn collectively

10.  The role played by women in rural mushroom production can be very
significant. Certain parts of the mushroom cultivation process, such as
filling substrates in containers and harvesting, are ideally suited for
women’s participation. Mushroom cultivation represents a very suitable
and empowering income generating option for women in particular,
because it can be combined with traditional domestic duties and can be
undertaken at home.
 Several programmes have enhanced women’s empowerement through
mushroom production by giving them the opportunity to gain farming
skills, financial independence and self-respect.

11.  Women empowerment is the ability of women to recognize their rights
and the role in economic and social development by fully participation in
the decisions that brings a change in their lives and societies as well.
Women empowerment can play very effective role in socio-economic
development through participation in economic system of the country and
at the same time can contribute in health and productivity of the families
and communities.
 Opportunities for the disabled People with physical disabilities are fully
capable of accomplishing all necessary tasks in mushroom cultivation,
even if some modifications in construction, equipment and tasks are
required. People with mental disabilities can also grow mushrooms
because several of the key tasks are repetitive and can be easily learned.

12.  Mushroom cultivation can also be a feasible livelihood activity for
chronically ill or weak people, who may benefit from working in a cooler,
shaded environment with minimal physical exertion, in contrast to the
more arduous work input often associated with other horticultural
products.
 Furthermore, it represents an ideal activity for older people, those in
poor health, and also people with physical and mental disabilities.
 Mushroom cultivation can make a valuable contribution to sustainable
livelihoods for both rural and urban poor, because they are highly
compatible with other livelihood activities, requiring minimal physical and
financial inputs and resources, to be undertaken successfully.

13.  They can be cultivated on a part-time basis, and require little
maintenance. Indirectly, mushroom cultivation also provides opportunities
for improving the sustainability of small farming systems through the
recycling of organic matter, which can be used as a growing substrate,
and then returned to the land as fertilizer.
 Contribution to livelihoods Mushroom cultivation can help reduce
vulnerability to poverty and strengthens livelihoods through the
generation of a fast yielding and nutritious source of food and a reliable
source of income.

14.  Mushroom substrate can be prepared from any clean agricultural waste
material, and mushrooms can be produced in temporary clean shelters.
Through the provision of income and improved nutrition, successful
cultivation and trade in mushrooms can strengthen livelihood assets,
which can not only reduce vulnerability to shocks, but enhance an
individual’s and a community’s capacity to act upon other economic
opportunities.