Sri Vijaya Puram, May 8: ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra (ICAR-KVK), North and Middle Andaman, conducted a Field Day on Oyster Mushroom Cultivation at its premises on May 7, 2026, with the objective of creating awareness among farmers and farmwomen about scientific mushroom cultivation techniques and sustainable crop residue management practices.
The programme witnessed participation from around 20 farmers and rural women interested in adopting mushroom cultivation as an additional income-generating activity suitable for island conditions.
During the field day, Yatharth Sharma, Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science), delivered a detailed session covering various aspects of oyster mushroom cultivation.
He explained scientific methods related to substrate preparation, spawning, incubation, crop management, harvesting techniques, hygiene maintenance and post-harvest handling practices essential for successful mushroom production.
He also highlighted the nutritional and economic importance of oyster mushroom cultivation, stating that it offers significant opportunities for rural households and women entrepreneurs to generate additional income with comparatively low investment and limited land requirement.
According to the experts, oyster mushroom cultivation is particularly suitable for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to favorable climatic conditions and the availability of agricultural waste materials that can be utilized as substrate.
The programme also focused on promoting sustainable agricultural practices and effective management of crop residues.
Rakesh Dawar, Subject Matter Specialist (Agronomy), interacted with participants on the importance of scientific crop residue management and eco-friendly farming approaches.
He explained how agricultural wastes and crop residues can be effectively utilised for the preparation of vermicompost and mushroom substrate instead of being discarded or burnt.
Dr. Dawar stated that recycling farm waste through mushroom cultivation and vermicomposting can help farmers improve soil fertility, reduce environmental pollution and adopt integrated farming practices better suited to island ecosystems.
An awareness session on balanced use of fertilizers was also conducted during the programme. Participants were educated about the importance of proper nutrient management and scientific fertilizer application to improve crop productivity while maintaining soil health.
The programme included interactive discussions during which farmers raised queries related to mushroom cultivation, pest and disease management, nutrient application, substrate preparation and market opportunities.
Experts from ICAR-KVK addressed the concerns of participants and encouraged them to adopt scientific cultivation practices for better productivity and income generation.
Such field-level programmes are important for strengthening knowledge transfer and encouraging farmers to diversify agricultural activities through low-cost and sustainable technologies.
The programme was conducted under the overall guidance of Jai Sunder, Director (Acting), ICAR Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI), Sri Vijaya Puram.
Officials said the institute will continue organising similar awareness and capacity-building programmes to promote sustainable agriculture and livelihood opportunities for farmers across the Islands.
