Title: Conversion of agriwaste into wealth via mushroom cultivation

Abstract:

India produces about 98 million tons of surplus agro wastes per annum. India has the potential to produce about 5 million tons (Mt) of fresh mushrooms merely by using 10% of the surplus agro waste burnt in the country every year. Improper management of these waste(s) is a big problem which causes pollution in the environment causes different diseases. Hence, there is always a high urging demand of discovering an agricultural waste management system/ method which is cost effective and contribute less in environment pollution with a valuable product. Mushroom cultivation by using these agiwastes is a good approach to remove environmental pollution caused by incineration of these waste and to provide the mushroom to eat for the marginalized section in India to solve the malnutrition problem of child(s). Mushroom is a valuable dietary supplement of protein and other nutritional components like vitamins, minerals, carbohydrate, fats and has medicinal properties. Mushroom production approach can play an important role in contributing to the better livelihood in rural & peri- urban area(s) of the country through food security, food safety, and income and employment generation to the unemployed youth. Its cultivation play an important role in agriculture waste management followed by employment generation to the youth(s) of the county. The mushroom cultivation related activities like mushroom cultivation, spawn mushroom production, compost preparation, processing, packaging, product development and marketing and skill development in Bihar performed whole year. Five mushroom genera like Pleurotus (Dhingri mushroom), Agaricus (Button mushroom), Calocybe (Milky mushroom) and Volvariella (Paddy mushroom) are commercially cultivated in different parts of India. Beside employment and income generation, poor families are taking mushroom in their diet regularly which will help to remove the malnutrition problem from children of Bihar in India.

Biography:

Khem Raj Meena is an Assistant Professor at Advance Centre of Mushroom Research, Department of Microbiology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar (India). He has two and half years teaching and research experience in the University. He has also involved in the different research projects at University level and presented work at globally. He published ~15 research articles, 2 book chapter and attended many workshop and conferences in India. He belong from a small village of Rajasthan in India and is passionate about teaching and research.