CULTIVATION PRACTICES OF MUSHROOM IN

A report submitted for the partial fulfillment of the requirements for secondary level
education of National Examination Board (NEB)

Submitted by:
Full Name:Aalok Raut
Grade: XI
Section:D7
Roll no:340
Submitted to:
Department of Biology
National School of Sciences (NSS)
Lainchaur, Kathmandu

April, 2024

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
During the period of our project and completion of this Report We have benefited from many
peoples to whom we would like to express our sincere thanks.

I would like to express my hearty gratitude to my respected lecturer for invaluable

suggestions and inspiring guidance for completing this study. His cooperation, suggestions
and keen interest in this study are over memorable. His vigorous efforts made me present
this research work in this form.
Furthermore, I would like to thank my colleague who directly and indirectly helped me.
Finally, I would like thank a lot to my friends and all the students of biology for supporting
me.

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 CONTENTS
TITLES Page number
1. INTRODUCTION 4-5
2. OBJECTIVES 6
3. METHODOLOGY 7
4. RESULTS 8-9
5. DISCUSSION 10-11
6. CONCLUSION 12
7. REFERENCES 13
8. ANNEXES 14-15

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 INTRODUCTION
1. Background: Mushrooms are the members of higher fungi belonging to class basic
diomycetes and some are Ascomycetes. They are fleshy spore bearing organ of fungi and
characterized by heterotrophic mode of nutrition. They may be apogeal and hypogeal
like any other fungus .The vegetative part of mushroom consists of thread like thin
mycelia, which under suitable environmental condition form fruiting bodies. Mushroom
occurs under various ecological conditions from desert to forest. They comprise a large
heterogeneous group with different shapes, size, color and edibility. They are
abundantly found in nature during rainy season .It is difficult to calculate the number of
species of fungi, which produce mushroom. Some of the mushrooms are edible and
some of them are highly poisonous. Fortunately the number of poisonous genera and
species are much fewer. To the context of Nepal its history of cultivation is not so long.
Invention and cultivated mushroom was started from 1976but nowadays it is fast
growing business due to its high profit. Farmers can get output within one month from
pleurotus cultivation. Nepal is also one of the countries where mushroom can be
cultivated throughout the year under natural environmental condition. But in some hot
and cold countries it needs highly sophisticated building. It may not be affordable for
farmer level. We can use most of agriculture wastage. We have plenty of raw materials
for mushroom cultivation. Skilled farmers can earn a lot of money from its cultivation. In
Nepal some of the valuable wild mushroom are going to be extinct due to its early
collection before mature. It is also necessary to develop cultivation technology of such
valuable mushroom. Mushroom cultivation also helps to conserve such valuable
mushroom. Some of the wild mushroom can take our life but cultivated mushroom are
safe for consumption. It has high medicinal and nutritional value. It can solve the
malnutrition problem like in our country. The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sp.) grows
under natural condition on wooden logs. This mushroom is also known as “wood
fungus” and is commonly known “kannechyau” in Nepal. Oyster mushroom is very
popular in Nepal where it can be grown all round the year. Being an agricultural country,
we have plenty of raw materials for its cultivation. Farmers can get output within short
period along with its high profit. Some of 14 the highly profitable and easy to cultivate
mushroom species in Nepal are Pleurotus sp., Agaricus sp. and Lentinus sp. Among these
Pleurotus is cultivated throughout the country while Agaricus is cultivated by highly
experienced farmers and Lentinus is newly introduced mushroom which has been
initiated to cultivate it by hardly a few farmers. The oriental mushroom Lenten’s eddoes
and Volvariellavolvacea have been cultivated for 2000 years in China and Japan. Their
cultivation technology according to Singer (1961) must be a very ancient art. The
method of cultivation of jaw’s ear (Auricular sp) has been recorded in the ancient
Chinese Publication Liki about 300Bc. The authentic record are available only for Agarics
Bosporus(bottom mushroom).whose cultivation was introduced into
Paris(France)around A.D.700 by an unknown French horticulturist in the open. Towards
the end of the seventeenth century, someone whose name is not recorded involved a
method of treating horse manure and planting it with the spawn of wild mushroom. But
the first time published method of mushroom cultivation is by Tournefort a Frenchman

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(Kapoor, 1999). Although cultivation technology of different mushroom were developed
in the foreign country much earlier, but to the context of Nepal, workshops and
invention of mushroom cultivation was started later on. In 1974, Plant Pathology
Division started research on mushroom cultivation. At first time research focused on
Agarics about compost preparation by using horse dung with different ingredients.
Finally by using solon formula, paddy straw compost was identified. Two seasons of
cultivation were also identified as-Agarics can be harvested from March to May, if spawn
is inoculated in compost January. Agaricscan be harvested from September- November if
spawn is inoculated at July In 1977; the cultivation technology was extended to the
farmers. In 1984, the number of mushroom grower was about 50-60 only. In 1984, the
cultivation technology of Pleurotus was introduced to Nepal. After spawn preparation
and lab test the cultivation technology extended to the farmers in 1984-85.At that time
number of farmers was about 100-150. In 1992, Australian project helped to conduct
training programmed at different places of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kabre.
Outside the Kathmandu valley CAT worked on collaboration with different organization.
In Kaski District, in collaboration with Li-Bird, CAT provided Technology and spawn to the
Li-bird. CAT also trained to the trainees of Li-Bird and supervised mushroom growers. In
Nawalparasi, in Collaboration with ILO programmed, cultivation technology for Pleurutus
and Volvariella was introduced at Terai for winter and summer respectively (in1999-
2000). In 2000-2003, research was carried for Shiitake on different fast growing trees by
CAT(Centre for Agriculture Technology). Among them, Alnussp and Castonuses sp. were
recommended for its cultivation. But still it seems 15 necessary to carry on further
research on different wooden logs in context of Nepal. Nowadays, popularity of
mushroom consumption is increasing. Therefore number of farm is growing up. Even
private farms have started to prepare, distribute the spawn and provide the training for
farmer

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 OBJECTIVES
•The general objective of this study is to find out prospects and challenges of mushroom
cultivation in the study area. The specific objectives of the study are as follows:
a) To find out the techniques of mushroom cultivation in the study area.
b) To find out cost and benefit of mushroom farming in the study area.
c) To analyze the problems of mushroom cultivation in the study area.

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 METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is an essential part of the thesis paper which forms the framework
for obtaining all necessary inputs of the study. In the present study the methodology
includes research design, nature and sources of data, sampling procedure, data collection
techniques and tools, data processing, analyzing methods and presentation. Mushroom
farming has higher potentiality in kathmandu metropolitan. This district is located at central
development region and has suitable climate for agriculture. Its access of transportation
helps the farmer to cultivate and market its product. This is why this metropolitan has large
area covered by farming as well as capital city as market for the farmed product. Different
types of ethnic caste live in this village. Among which called higher caste (Brahaman,Chettri,
Newar, Magar etc.) are literate so they are attracted towards cash farming product due to
its advantages. Researcher choose this area to find out their thinking to find out the
potentiality and challenges of mushroom cultivators. The universe of the study was the
people of the Kathmandu metropolitan.Households having mushroom farming are treated
as population.The 50 sample have been selected by applying quota sampling method.
Nature and Sources of Data Socio economic data are collected for the study. The collected
data are both qualitative and quantitative. Both primary and secondary data sources are
used to describe and analyze the study area. The primary data have been collected through
structured questionnaire. Interview and direct apparition also have been applied to collect
primary data, whereas secondary data has been collected from different published and no
published written documents from individuals, experts and organization related to the
mushroom farming sector. No research can be completed without collection of valid data,
so for this research too researcher have collected both primary and secondary data.
Secondary data were collected from different articles, prints, brochure, books etc. To collect
primary data, the structured questionnaire, semi or unstructured interview and observation
methods has been applied. To generate accurate and realistic data structured questionnaire
was prepared. Thus the questionnaire was filled by the respondents of the sample
households head. Hence required information was collected. Key Informant Interview The
primary data was also collected from the key informants using the semi or unstructured
questionnaire interview method on the basis of prepared checklist. The interview was taken
as cross checking for data obtained from questionnaire. The information was collected from
farmers, consumers, and labor involve in farming. For the collection of data, the researcher
himself visited all respondents during the data collection. Researcher took a local facilitator
because he needed support to collect data. When the researcher did not meet the target
persons at the situation he collected data from nearer place and after finishing the task,
these were taken back and with the help of interview further information collected from the
head of the family as soon as possible. Different techniques were used for the production of
mushroom according to the types/varieties of mushroom so to determine the different
ways/ technique used by respondents. For e.g., floor, hanger, tray (see annex III)

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 RESULTS
•Techniques use on Mushroom Production
Different techniques were used for the production of mushroom according to the
types/variety of mushroom so to determine the different ways/techniques used by
respondents for the mushroom cultivation questionnaire was prepared and the
collected
data by researcher has been presented as below:
Table 1: Technique Use on Mushroom Production

Description No. of respondent Percentage

Floor 5 10%
Hanger 40 80%
Tray 5 10%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2016
So from above presented table it can be said that 80% of respondents that being 40 people
out of 50 use hanger technique to cultivate mushroom, 5 people i.e. 10% of total
respondents uses floor similarly tray are used by 10% that being 5 people out of 50. So it can
be concluded that hanging techniques is the best for mushroom cultivation in the study
area
•Types of Mushroom Cultivated in the Study Area

During the study it was found that only two types of mushroom are being produced namely
Gobre and Kanya mushroom. So it was asked to the farmers whether they were producing
both types of mushroom or not.

Types No.of respondents percentage

Gobre 5 10%
Kanya 45 90%
Both 0 0%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2024
From the above table it can be study that 90% of respondents that being 45 people out of
50 have been cultivating Kanya mushroom and only 10% farmers means only 5 people out
of 50 have been cultivating Gobre mushroom. So, it can be said that kanya mushroom is the
favorite one in the study area.

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•Cost Per kg during Production

According to the respondents it was found out that average cost of mushroom per kg is Rs.
95 while cost rises up to Rs.110 after adding transportation cost while transporting product
to the product. While if farmers get price more than Rs.110 then they starts to get profit if
their products get less than Rs.110 then it’s loss as breakeven point of the product is Rs.110 .

Table 3: Cost Perkg during Production

Cost per production kg during No. of respondents Percentage
Rs.95 50 100%
Total 50 100%

•Application Status of Modern Techniques in Mushroom Farming

Modern technique is essential part for farming, in mushroom cultivation too. But only few
farmers use modern techniques, so they are worried about their farming system.
Table 4: Application of Modern Technique in Mushroom Production

Description Households Percentage

Appiled 5 10%
Not applied 45 90%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field Survey- 2024
The table shows that 10% household that is only 5 respondents out of 50 people have
applied modern techniques in their farming and 90% that is 45 people of study area are just
following the traditional way or self taught techniques for mushroom cultivation in study
area. So we conclude that lack of modern techniques in their farming
•Prospects
It has better economic prospects for the cultivation of mushroom farming. Thus if all the
farmers of the study area grow the mushroom instead of other prevailing traditional crops
then they can certainly receive better income. Better income helps them to improve their
economic status by improving educational status, health status, social status etc. Currently
about five species of mushroom are cultivated in commercial scale. Among them white
button mushroom and oyster mushroom is produced more and is consumed more. But
mainly kanya mushroom are cultivated in study area some farm do have gobre mushroom
being cultivated. The production of mushroom has not only given the better income for
growers, it has also created additional employment opportunities for people at various
levels such as orchard operations, transport media, storage and processing factory,
technical personnel etc. The prevailing situation of disguised unemployment can also be
removed to some extent by growing mushroom cultivation, as most of the respondents
have been getting financial benefits from mushroom farming in study area.

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 DISCUSSION

So, after the study made by researcher it was found that study area has diverse ethnic
groups, magar dominates the study are as 44% of respondents were magar beside that
newar, Brahmin and chettri community can be found in the study area. Study shows that
majority of the respondents were between age group 50to 65and minority on age group
35 to 40 as 22% respondents were between age group 50 to 65. From the study it was
understood that among the total respondents 68% of respondent were male and 32% of
respondent were female. It was found out that 11 respondents among the total sample
was found unmarried and remaining 39 were married. According to study it was figured
that 40 respondents who belong to dalits family i.e. 80% of respondents follow Hinduism
and remaining 10 out of 50 i.e. 20% are follower of Buddhism. It was found that 60% of
respondents were literate, whereas 12% couldn’t read and write, remaining 28% have
passed SLC and few were University student too. We can conclude that 6% of the
respondents are doing mushroom cultivation in large scale and 24% of farmers are
running this farming as Mid scale business whereas most number i.e.70% of the
respondents are doing their business for side income activities as low/small scale
business. It was found that 38 people among 50 were involved in agriculture or farming,
3 people were from teaching background, representation from private job holder were 5
and social worker were 4 from our research. It was found that 16 people use 2 ropani
and 24 people 3 to 5 ropani and 10people use above 5 ropani land use of the among
total respondent. it can be concluded that family having 3-5 members were of 37
respondents, where as family whose members were less than 3 were 6 respondents,
and 7 respondents were from the family whose members were more than 5. It was
found out that 92% respondent use hay and 8% respondent use mud as medium for
mushroom farming. About season it was found that summer season has more
production than in winter season. In terms of techniques of growing mushroom it was
found that 80% of respondents use hanger technique to cultivate mushroom whereas
tray and floor were not so popular. It was found that farmers have been following the
planting method for the cultivation of mushroom rather than spraying method. In terms
of variety of mushrooms 90% of respondents have been cultivating Kanya mushroom
and only 10% farmers have been cultivating Gobre mushroom. After the completion of
the study by researcher it was found that minimum time duration for the production of
mushroom is 3 weeks as per the response of the respondents. As most of the mushroom
in the study area is done in plastic bag so after the completion of the research it was
found out that in average per bag production is 2 kg. According to the respondents it
was found out that average cost of mushroom per kg is Rs. 95 while cost rises up to
Rs.110 after adding transportation cost while transporting. While if farmers get price
more than Rs.110 then they starts to get profit if their products get less than Rs.110 then
it’s loss as breakeven point of the product is Rs.110. In the mushroom farming sector
farmers of the study area are not so happy with the price they have been getting in

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market. On the basis of response of respondents it was found that at least 5 people per
day is needed to look after the farm. Regarding the training availability 10 percent have
got opportunity of training related to the Mushroom farming while 90 percent farmers
have not got any opportunity of training In terms of applying modern techniques it was
found that 10% household applied modern techniques in their farming and 90%
households said that not applied. After the study it was found that in the study area
farmers lacks use of modern tools and the main reason behind the lack of such modern
machines is lack of knowledge about such equipment. Despite having many challenges
this place has more potentiality for developing this area as mushroom cultivating sector.
This area has great future to be developed as mushroom cultivating area in near future if
the challenges and constraints are mitigated in the proper way

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 CONCLUSION
Nepal is small and landlocked country but it has a diverse climate, so Nepal has huge
potentiality of different types of farming. The study area is geographically and climatically
suitable for farming, at the same time there is no problems of transportation facility, in this
area most of the people have less land.. This farming is easy in the study area as mushroom
can be cultivated in the shed built in small land area; also study area being near to the city
area it’s easy to different types of facilities available like information technology, availability
of large numbers of labor, fertile land and indigenous knowledge etc. After the completion
of study it can be concluded that mainly used farming technique in the study area in terms
of techniques of growing mushroom use hanger technique whereas tray and floor were not
so popular. It was found that farmers have been following the planting method for the
cultivation of mushroom rather than spraying method. It was found out that 92%
respondent use hay and 8% respondent use mud as medium for mushroom farming. Mostly
relying on traditional method of farming. It was found out that mushroom on the field were
sold at Rs. 95 where as in market after adding travelling cost it can be sold at Rs. 110 per kg.
So there breakeven point is Rs. 110 but most of the farmers seem not so happy with the
price they get in market. Another objectives of the study was to analyze the problems and
prospects of mushroom cultivation in study area so after the completion of study it can be
concluded that most of 52 the farmers are untrained and have been farming without using
any modern means and techniques mainly due to lack of instruments. Commercially,
mushroom farming is more profitable than other cultivation of traditional cereal crops.
Topographically and climatically, the study area is suitable for mushroom production The
production of mushroom has not only given the better income for growers, it has also
created additional employment opportunities for people at various levels. Despite having
many challenges this place has more potentiality for developing this area as mushroom
cultivating sector. This area has great future to be developed as mushroom cultivating area
in near future if the challenges and constraints are mitigated in the proper way.

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 REFERENCES
• Adhikari, M. K (1976), Chyau: Ek Charcha (Mushroom: A discussion), Gorkhapatra,
Kathmandu, in Nepali.
•Alma R. H. (1974) “Indian Herbology of North America” Merco Windsor, Ontario Canada
Amatya, P. (2003), the Himalayan Times, Nov. 11.
•Joshi, T.R. (2060), Ganotherapy Ko Rahasya (Research on Ganoderma), Kathmandu:
Sanjiwani Clinic and Research Centre.
•Karn, J. K. (2205) Nutritional Status of the Primary School Children 6 -8 years of Sarlahi,
Master's Thesis, Kathmandu, T.U.
•Khadka B. Researcher, Department of Plant Pathology, Nepal Agriculture Research Council,
Khumaltar, Lalitpur
•Kumar, P.M. (Asadh 19, 2059), The Kathmandu Post, Wednesday.
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Medicine by Indian Board of Alternative Medicine. Kharagpur, India.
•Manandhar, K.L. (2005) Handbook of Mushroom Production Technology. Kathmandu:
Centre
of Agricultural Technology (CAT)
•Breene, W. M. (1990). Nutritional and medicinal value of specialty mushrooms .Jour. Food
Protect. 883-894.
•www. dxnnepal.com (2002)
•www.dxn24.com (2011)
•Adhikari, M. K. (2001). New records of fleshy fungi from Kathmandu valley, Nepal.Green
world.3-7
•Coharan, K. W,(1978). The Biology and Cultivation of edible mushrooms. Academic Press,
New York. 169-187
•Chang, Shu-Ting."Mushrooms and Mushroom Cultivation."Encyclopedia of Life Sciences
(2001).
•Subedi, M.N. and Manadhar, J.D.,(1992). Distribution of microbialflora in forest soils of
adjoining hills of chandragiri in (Kathmandu valley) Nepal. Jour. Nat. Hist. Mus. 13(1-3): 49-
58.

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ANNEXES

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