Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Mushroom cultivation is acknowledged as a technically viable and lucrative agricultural practice, acknowledged by both researchers and farmers as a means to generate substantial income, employment opportunities, and foster rural development. Initiatives aimed at employment generation and poverty alleviation play a pivotal role in fortifying the socio-economic status of marginalized populations, particularly rural women. Numerous agricultural universities, KrishiVigyan Kendras, and research centres have organized extensive training programs and workshops over time to equip women with the necessary skills for mushroom cultivation. Consequently, training initiatives have gained widespread acceptance as a strategy with significant returns on investment. The current research investigation was conducted at GBPUA&T, Pantnagar. Five training sessions on “Techniques of Mushroom production and value Addition” were organized under the Tribal Sub Plan project, funded by ICAR at MRTC, Pantnagar, with a total of 200 SC/ST farm women selected for data collection. Data was gathered through interviews and discussions. The findings from this study revealed that majority of respondents belonged to medium age (53 per cent), primary education (55 per cent), small family size (52.50per cent), Cosmopoliteness (14.50 per cent), medium level of extension contact (76%). Gain in knowledge was increased after implementation of training programme