2025-08-20

"I have attended several training sessions on mushroom farming before, but this one was far more detailed and effective," shared Geetha, one of the participants.

The highlight of the workshop was the introduction and live demonstration of pellet-based mushroom bed preparation—a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional straw methods.

The training was conducted in two parts: a theory session and a practical workshop. The theoretical session covered fundamental aspects such as an introduction to mushrooms, tissue culture, mother spawn and spawn production, bed preparation methods, and post-harvest technologies.

What set this training apart was the focus on pellets as a growing substrate. Unlike conventional straw beds, pellets are cleaner, compact, and require minimal effort. Participants noted that this method not only reduces labour but also minimizes the risk of contamination, making it more practical and scalable. The pellet-based cultivation is simpler compared to traditional methods. The use of pellets can save time, reduce effort, and make mushroom farming more practical for small-scale growers.

 The sessions were led by Dr. Punnen Kurian (Director, TIES), Prof. Sunny Jose (Retired HoD, St. Xavier’s College, Vaikom), and Ms. Arya Shaji (Project Assistant, TIES). In the hands-on session, participants prepared their own pellet-based beds, applying their newly gained knowledge directly in practice.

This initiative is part of TIES’ ongoing capacity-building programs that encourage eco-friendly and economically viable farming practices. The program was effectively coordinated by Sarath Babu N B, Jijomon P P, and Limna Alena Baby from the TIES team.