Woman Empowerment through mushroom cultivation A Presentation By Mr Allah Dad Khan Former Director General Agriculture Extension KPK Province and Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan

3. Empowerment of Women Folk
through Mushroom Cultivation
Lecture
By
Allah Dad Khan
Former DG Agriculture Extension
KPK

4. Mushroom
The mushroom is a fungus which comes in a wide range of
varieties that belong to two distinct types: cultivated and
wild. In myth and folklore mushrooms have always had
something of a mystical connection: elves and fairies are
often depicted sitting atop them, and they are known to
spring up seemingly overnight in 'fairy rings'. On a more
practical level, many mushrooms and fungi can be
poisonous or hallucinogenic. If foraging in the forest, it's
important to know what you're looking for.

5. Concept of Empowerment
The concept of empowerment is defined as the process by
which women take control and ownership of their choices
The core elements of empowerment have been defined as
agency (the ability to define one’s goals and act upon
them), awareness of gendered power structures, self-
esteem, and self-confidence .

6. Empowerment at different level
Empowerment can take place at a hierarchy of different
levels – individual, household, community and societal –
and is facilitated by providing encouraging factors (e.g.
exposure to new activities, which can build capacities) and
removing inhibiting factors (e.g. lack of resources and
skills)

11. Mushroom Technology Depend on
1. Awareness about Mushroom Cultivation .
2.Lack of awareness about Mushroom Nutrition
3.Lack of access to Training Facilities .
4. Capacity Building .
5.Initial capital / finances

12. How Women Empowered
1. Awareness creation and motivation to adopt mushroom cultivation as
an income generating activity.
2.Training at the door step to impart skill
3.Practical application and demonstration
4.Utilization of women folk as women are considered as the most
disadvantages group.
5.Technical support and staff for women activities.
6. Became a source to build organization, strengthened the
management capabilities and promoted women self-reliance; and
7. Raised consciousness and awareness among the people and in the
government focusing on the most neglected areas related to women.
8.Special projects for women empowerment initiated.

13. Sustainability of activity of Mushroom
cultivation
1.Orientation of the women.
2.Spreading of information
3.More training support may be provided as and when
necessary.
4.Spreading the technology through adaptation.

14. Sustainability of activity of
Mushroom cultivation
5.Keeping up the activities.
6.Promotion of mushroom as a cottage industry.
7. Formation of women organizations.
8.Post training evaluation.

15. Through Empowerment of Woman we
get the following results
1.Economic empowerment and reduction in malnutrition.
2.Improved standard of living and self reliant livelihood.
3.Self confidence
4.Enhance awareness
5.Sense of achievement
6.Increased social interaction
7.Involvement in solving problems related to women
community.
8.Decision making capacity in family and community.
9.Bioconsevation of agriculture waste.

16. Mushroom farming is a
viable cottage
agricultural activity
because it requires
minimal investment,
and has a very short
growth period.