Mushroom in AC chamber

Last year, Dulle Chow spent only three months of winter. This time, Dalle mushrooms are planted in an air-conditioned chamber that can be cultivated for 12 months. He estimates that the amount of business will be doubled as Dalle mushroom, which is relatively more expensive, can be produced throughout the year. Kamal, whose original home is Nawalparasi, moved to Belgium in 2002. There he trained for two years on mushrooms. He worked in the same mushroom camp for five more years. Kamal, who has also visited other countries, left abroad four years ago and came home.

At first he worked in someone else's mushroom farm. After returning from abroad, I worked in mushroom farms in Bhairahwa and Jugedi. I came to Padampur from December 1979 and started mushroom cultivation by myself after renting land,' said Kamal.

Kamal, who cultivated mushrooms with five lakh rupees, increased his investment. After seeing the possibility of getting a good income by producing it every twelve months, he built an AC chamber. Now production has started from it. Even if it is called an AC chamber, it is an Air Handling Unit (AHU). This is a technique, due to which humidity, temperature and suitable environment and temperature for the mushroom are always there," said Kamal.

Kamal said that an AHU costs Rs 10 to 11 lakh. There are 12 such chambers. One chamber is subsidized by the state government. He said that others raised resources themselves. "Now four crore rupees have been invested. I have collected a loan of two and a half crores from the bank," said Kamal. He says that although the price of pot mushroom is unstable, the price of dalle remains the same throughout the year. "When selling leafy mushrooms for 200 rupees per kilo, the price suddenly drops to 100 rupees. Dallo mushrooms are sold for 300 and 350, he said. He said that AHU has been prepared for this. He says that AHU technology is not a new technology in Nepal.

Kamal informed that mushroom cultivation is being done in four-five places in AHU in Bhairahwa, Sarlahi, Gaindakot, Jugedi and Kathmandu. We learned skills abroad. I have started working to adopt this in the country. By adopting new technology, mushroom cultivation is to be managed, said Kamal. Mushroom cultivation was already taking place within the Kalika municipality area. Vinod Regmi, Mayor of Kalika Municipality, said that even now, mushrooms are produced and sold at a cost of four million rupees a year.

70/80 families in the municipality have cultivated mushrooms. Systematic mushroom cultivation using new technology has also started. This has brought more opportunities for self-employment as well as employment," said Mayor Regmi. Even within Kalika municipality, there is more mushroom cultivation in ward number 2.