Table 1.

Different modules of training proposed on mushroom cultivation technology

Details Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5 Module 6 Module 7 Module 8

Course title Training on Training on White button Training on Hands on Hands on Training on Short training
mushroom small scale mushroom mushroom training on training on mushroom on small scale
production as an mushroom production cultivation spawn value addition production mushroom
agri-business production of technology as an technology production and post technology for production of
enterprises different agri-business through digital technology for harvest scientists and different
varieties for enterprises content delivery farmers and technology in officials varieties
farmers and entrepreneurs mushrooms under
rural youth TSP/NEH
Brief Covers the Covers the Production of Covers the A brief A brief Covers the Shortened
description spawn spawn compost by spawn introduction introduction spawn version of
about production, production, different production, about principles about production, module 2
course cultivation cultivation methods to grow cultivation and practices principles and cultivation
methods of methods of white button methods of involved in the practices methods of
different edible different edible mushroom, white different edible spawn involved in different edible
mushrooms like mushrooms like button mushrooms like production mushroom mushrooms
white button, white button, mushroom crop white button, followed by storage, like white
oyster, milky, oyster, milky, production, farm oyster, milky, hands-on processing button, oyster,
shiitake and shiitake and design and shiitake and practicing of and value milky, shiitake
paddy straw paddy straw seasonal paddy straw different stages addition. and paddy
mushrooms by mushrooms for cultivation of mushrooms and of culture Preparation of straw
seasonal and small scale white button value addition preparation and mushroom mushrooms by
environment production and mushroom. and post spawn pickles, curry, seasonal and
controlled units value addition harvest production biscuits and environment
and value and post harvest technology in other value controlled units
addition and technology in mushrooms. added and value
post harvest mushrooms. Management of products by addition and
technology in Management of pests and the post harvest
mushrooms. pests and diseases participants. technology in
management of diseases affecting mushrooms.
pests and affecting mushrooms management
diseases mushrooms (Video of pests and
affecting documentary diseases
mushrooms presentation, affecting
discussion, mushrooms
 combined with
demonstrations)

Method of Theory/ lecture Theory/ lecture Theory/ lecture Video Hands on Hands on Theory/ lecture Same as
instruction with power with power with power point documentaries practice to learn practice to with power module 2
and point point presentations followed by skills of spawn learn skills of point
teaching presentations presentations supplemented discussion with production mushroom presentations
tools used supplemented supplemented with experts preservation supplemented
with with demonstrations and with
demonstrations demonstrations processing demonstrations
and discussions
Literature or Printed Printed Printed literature Printed Technology Video Printed Printed
training literature literature covering the literature documentary on documentary literature literature
material to covering the covering the curriculum covering the spawn on post covering the covering the
be provided curriculum curriculum curriculum and production and harvest curriculum and curriculum
technology literature on technology technology
documentaries spawn and value documentaries
production addition in
technology mushrooms
and literature
on mushroom
recipes
Eligibility for Able to read, Farmers and Able to read, Candidates Able to read, Able to read, Scientists and People
trainees and write and rural youth write and must write and write and officers belonging to
targeted understand aiming to start understand understand understand understand working in north eastern
learners english/hindi. mushroom english/hindi. english. Persons english/hindi. english/hindi. KVKs/ SAU/ states and
Farmers and cultivation in a Farmers and with experience Persons with Experience in State persons
entrepreneurs small scale (20- entrepreneurs in cultivating experience in commercial departments belonging to
aiming large 100 kg aiming small/ any mushroom, agribusiness or cultivation of etc. scheduled
scale mushroom per large scale Graduates and cultivating any mushrooms tribes.
commercial day) with low commercial persons with mushrooms. or experience (Domicile/
mushroom investment cultivation of bilogical science Graduates and in food Aadhar and
cultivation with capacity (Rs. 2- white button background will persons with processing/ caste
high investment 20 lakh) mushrooms. be preferred. bilogical science preservation certificate)
capacity background will and value
be preferred.
 addition of
vegetables.
Number of 30-40 40-50 50-60 50-100 5-10 5-10 20-30 20-50
candidates/
batch
Duration in 7 5 4 3 3 3 5-7 3-4
days
Table 2. Curriculum framework proposed for different training modules on mushroom cultivation technology

Sl. No Lecture Module 1 Module 2 & Module 3 Module 4 Module 5 Module 6 Module
8 7
1 An introduction to mushrooms, √ √ √ X X X X
principles and practices of their
cultivation
2 An exposure visit to farm facilities √ √ √ X X X √
and cropping rooms
3 Mushroom – An agri business √ X X X X X √
activity
4 Nutritional and medicinal values of √ √ X X X √ X
mushrooms
5 Mushroom culture preparation and √ X √ √ √ X √
preservation techniques
6 Spawn production technology √ √ √ √ √ X √
7 Quality traits in mushroom strains √ X √ X √ X √
and acceptability
8 Methods of compost production √ √ √ √ X X √
technologies for white button
mushrooms
9 Crop management of white button √ √ √ √ X X √
mushroom
10 Farm design, infrastructure √ X √ X X X √
requirement for commercial
mushroom growing unit
11 Economics of button mushroom √ √ X X X X √
cultivation in small scale
12 Economics of button mushroom √ X √ X X X √
cultivation in industrial scale
13 Cultivation & economics of paddy √ √ X √ X X √
straw/Volvariella
14 Cultivation of oyster mushroom √ √ X √ X X √
15 Infrastructure, economics of oyster √ √ X X X X √
mushroom
16 Cultivation & economics of milky √ √ X √ X X √
mushroom
17 Competitor moulds/fungal and viral √ √ √ X X X √
diseases
18 Bacterial diseases and abiotic √ √ √ X X X √
disorders of mushrooms
19 Insect, pests & nematodes of √ √ √ X X X √
mushroom crop and their
management
20 Cultivation of shiitake mushroom √ X X √ X X √
21 Production & marketing: Global √ X X X X X √
and national scenerio
22 Financial assistance available to √ √ √ X X X X
mushroom production and project
formulation
23 Round the year cultivation of √ √ X X X X √
mushrooms
24 Quality parameters and analysis of √ X √ X X X √
compost and casing soil
25 Cultivation of specialty mushrooms √ X X X X X √
26 Post harvest handling, value- √ √ √ √ X √ √
addition processing
27 Computer use and application in √ X √ X X X X
mushroom entreprises
28 Recycling of spent mushroom √ √ √ X X X √
substrate
29 Sources of information for various √ √ √ X X X √
inputs
30 Entrepreneurial attributes to √ X X X X X X
succeed in mushroom
entrepreneurship
Table 3. Curriculum framework proposed for different training modules on mushroom cultivation technology

Model 1
An introduction to mushrooms, principles and practices of their cultivation
An exposure visit to farm facilities and cropping rooms
Mushroom – An agri business activity
Nutritional and medicinal values of mushrooms
Mushroom culture preparation and preservation techniques
Spawn production technology
Quality traits in mushroom strains and acceptability
Methods of compost production technologies for white button mushrooms
Crop management of white button mushroom
Farm design, infrastructure requirement for commercial mushroom growing unit
Economics of button mushroom cultivation in small scale
Economics of button mushroom cultivation in industrial scale
Cultivation & economics of paddy straw/Volvariella
Cultivation of oyster mushroom
Infrastructure, economics of oyster mushroom
Cultivation & economics of milky mushroom
Competitor moulds/fungal and viral diseases
Bacterial diseases and abiotic disorders of mushrooms
Insect, pests & nematodes of mushroom crop and their management
Cultivation of shiitake mushroom
Production & marketing: Global and national scenerio
Financial assistance available to mushroom production and project formulation
Round the year cultivation of mushrooms
Quality parameters and analysis of compost and casing soil
Cultivation of specialty mushrooms
Post harvest handling, value-addition processing
Computer use and application in mushroom entreprises
Recycling of spent mushroom substrate
Sources of information for various inputs
Entrepreneurial attributes to succeed in mushroom entrepreneurship
Model 2
An introduction to mushrooms, principles and practices of their cultivation
An exposure visit to farm facilities and cropping rooms
Nutritional and medicinal values of mushrooms
Spawn production technology
Methods of compost production technologies for white button mushrooms
Crop management of white button mushroom
Economics of button mushroom cultivation in small scale
Cultivation & economics of paddy straw/Volvariella
Cultivation of oyster mushroom
Infrastructure, economics of oyster mushroom
Cultivation & economics of milky mushroom
Competitor moulds/fungal and viral diseases
Bacterial diseases and abiotic disorders of mushrooms
Insect, pests & nematodes of mushroom crop and their management
Financial assistance available to mushroom production and project formulation
Round the year cultivation of mushrooms
Post harvest handling, value-addition processing
Recycling of spent mushroom substrate
Sources of information for various inputs
Model 3
An introduction to mushrooms, principles and practices of their cultivation
An exposure visit to farm facilities and cropping rooms
Mushroom culture preparation and preservation techniques
Spawn production technology
Quality traits in mushroom strains and acceptability
Methods of compost production technologies for white button mushrooms
Crop management of white button mushroom
Farm design, infrastructure requirement for commercial mushroom growing unit
Economics of button mushroom cultivation in industrial scale
Competitor moulds/fungal and viral diseases
Bacterial diseases and abiotic disorders of mushrooms
Insect, pests & nematodes of mushroom crop and their management
Financial assistance available to mushroom production and project formulation
Quality parameters and analysis of compost and casing soil
Post harvest handling, value-addition processing
Computer use and application in mushroom entreprises
Recycling of spent mushroom substrate
Sources of information for various inputs
Model 4
Mushroom culture preparation and preservation techniques
Spawn production technology
Methods of compost production technologies for white button mushrooms
Crop management of white button mushroom
Cultivation & economics of paddy straw/Volvariella
Cultivation of oyster mushroom
Cultivation & economics of milky mushroom
Cultivation of shiitake mushroom
Post harvest handling, value-addition processing
Model 5
Mushroom culture preparation and preservation techniques
Spawn production technology
Quality traits in mushroom strains and acceptability
Model 6
Nutritional and medicinal values of mushrooms
Post harvest handling, value-addition processing
Model 7
An exposure visit to farm facilities and cropping rooms
Mushroom – An agri business activity
Mushroom culture preparation and preservation techniques
Spawn production technology
Quality traits in mushroom strains and acceptability
Methods of compost production technologies for white button mushrooms
Crop management of white button mushroom
Farm design, infrastructure requirement for commercial mushroom growing unit
Economics of button mushroom cultivation in small scale
Economics of button mushroom cultivation in industrial scale
Cultivation & economics of paddy straw/Volvariella
Cultivation of oyster mushroom
Infrastructure, economics of oyster mushroom
Cultivation & economics of milky mushroom
Competitor moulds/fungal and viral diseases
Bacterial diseases and abiotic disorders of mushrooms
Insect, pests & nematodes of mushroom crop and their management
 Cultivation of shiitake mushroom
Production & marketing: Global and national scenerio
Round the year cultivation of mushrooms
Quality parameters and analysis of compost and casing soil
Cultivation of specialty mushrooms
Post harvest handling, value-addition processing
Recycling of spent mushroom substrate
Sources of information for various inputs
Model 8
Same as model 2

Table 4. Brief outline of lectures identified in the curriculum

Sl. No Lecture Brief outline

1 An introduction to mushrooms;
principles and practices of their
cultivation
2 An exposure visit to farm
facilities and cropping rooms
3 Mushroom – An agri business
activity
4 Nutritional and medicinal
values of mushrooms
5 Mushroom culture preparation
and preservation techniques
6 Spawn production technology
7 Quality traits in mushroom
strains and acceptability
What are mushrooms? Mushroom diversity, difference between edible and non edible
mushrooms, how mushrooms are important for human consumption. Morhological
characters of mushrooms, Life cycle of different mushrooms. Principles and practices of of
mushrom cultivation covering different phases of growth during cultivation and importance
of parameters like light, temperature, air, relative humidity, etc.
Exposure visit to show the facilities of spawn production, compost preparation, cropping,
SMS disposal, etc.
An introductory lecture covering the economic value of mushroom cultivation, case studies
from different states and countries.
Explain in detail the nutritional and medicinal benefits from mushrooms, biology of active
ingredients of different mushrooms, digestibility, precautions, commercial application and
use.
What is culture, why it is required? Role of autoclave, laminar flow, BOD incubator, Test
tubes, petriplates, non absorbant cotton, PP bags, PP necks, hygiene, etc. Different methods
of culture preparation; advantages, disadvantages. Methods of culture preservation, its
economic significance and precautions to be taken for its preservation.
Preparation of mother spawn from culture and commercial spawn from mother spawn,
spawn transportation, storage.
Importance of quality strains, methods to maintain strain quality, crop improvement
strategies, mushroom breeding principles, etc.
8 Methods of compost
production technologies for
white button mushrooms
9 Crop management of white
button mushroom
10 Farm design, infrastructure
requirement for commercial
mushroom growing unit
11 Economics of button
mushroom cultivation in small
scale
12 Economics of button
mushroom cultivation in
industrial scale
13 Cultivation & economics of
paddy straw/Volvariella
14 Cultivation of oyster mushroom
15 Infrastructure, economics of
oyster mushroom
16 Cultivation & economics of
milky mushroom
17 Competitor moulds/fungal and
viral diseases
18 Bacterial diseases and abiotic
disorders of mushrooms
19 Insect, pests & nematodes of
mushroom crop and their
management
20 Cultivation of shiitake
mushroom
Three methods of compost production to grow white button mushrooms.
Crop management practices white button mushroom including, arrangment of compost in
bags/beds, management of air, humidity, light during different stages of crop, casing soil
preparation, harvesting.
Details about the chilling plant, boiler, tunnes, bunkers, farm design, cropping rooms,
principles and practices of their construction.
Cost of establishing growing sheds, spawn purchase, and the economis and profitability of
button mushrooms of different production capacity in small rooms/ sheds with bag and bed
system of cultivation.
Cost of establishing commercial button mushroom unit and the economis and profitability
of button mushrooms of different production capacity.
Crop management practices including, arrangment of straw in bags/beds, indoor and
loutdoor; management of air, humidity, light during different stages of crop, harvesting.
Crop management practices of oyster mushrooms of important varieties covering, methods
of substrate pasteurisation, arrangment of substrate in bags/beds, management of air,
humidity, light during different stages of crop, harvesting.
Cost of establishing growing sheds, spawn purchase, and the economis and profitability of
oyster mushrooms of different production capacity in small rooms/ sheds with hanging and
shelf system of cultivation.
Crop management practices of oyster mushrooms of important varieties covering, methods
of substrate pasteurisation, arrangment of substrate in bags/beds, management of air,
humidity, light during different stages of crop, casing soil preparation, harvesting.
Details of all the diseases along with their predisposing factors, causal organisms, measures
for disease management
Details of all the diseases along with their predisposing factors, causal organisms, measures
for disease management
Details of all the insects, pests, nematodes and rats affecting mushroom crop along with
their predisposing factors, nature and extent of damage, measures for disease management
Crop management practices of shiitake mushrooms of important varieties covering,
methods of substrate sterilisation, arrangment of substrate in bags, management of air,
humidity, light during different stages of crop, harvesting, marketing.
21 Production & marketing: Global
and national scenerio
22 Financial assistance available to
mushroom production and
project formulation
23 Round the year cultivation of
mushrooms
24 Quality parameters and
analysis of compost and casing
soil
25 Cultivation of specialty
mushrooms
26 Post harvest handling, value-
addition, processing
27 Computer use and application
in mushroom entreprises
28 Recycling of spent mushroom
substrate
29 Sources of information for
various inputs
30 Entrepreneurial attibutes to
succeed in mushroom
entrepreneurship
Important data of mushroom production at national and international level. Marketing
opportunities in India and abroad.
Project formulation principles for mushroom cultivation and schemes of subsidy and loans
by Government institutions for mushroom enterprise.
Rationale of round the year cultivation of mushrooms, principles and practices of RTY
cultivation of mushrooms, examples, case studies, advantages and challenges of RTY
cultivation.
Characters of ideal compost, methods of compost analysis, casing soil analysis, equipment
handling, precations, validation of results, inference and decision making based on analysis
report.
Scope and importance of specialty mushrooms like Pleurotus eryngi, Ganoderma,
Flammulina, etc. Crop management practices of specialty mushrooms of important varieties
covering, methods of substrate pasteurisation, arrangment of substrate in bags/beds,
management of air, humidity, light during different stages of crop, harvesting.
Post harvest handling, value-addition, processing of different varieties of mushrooms,
economic value, case studies.
Application of computers in mushroom entrepreneurship for data collection, data
recording, sensors use,
Use and application of spent mushroom substrate in field crops and other areas. Biomass
utilisation for energy creation, principles of disposal, case studies.
Sources of suppliers of machinery, spawn, marketing agencies, financial insititutions, etc.
Qualities of entrepreneurs; importance of domain knowledge, innovativeness, competition
and market orientation, achievement orientation, management skills and application.