Mushroom growers raise a stink

At present, farmers source spawn from 12 units in the state — including the National Research Centre for Mushroom and the Dr Y S Parmar University — for Rs 45-50/kg.

‘‘Non-availability of quality seeds at the right time is proving to be a major handicap for growers,’’ admits a senior scientist at the National Research Centre for Mushroom. ‘‘Farmers have to wait for weeks for spawn, during which time the compost loses its vigour.’’

According to experts, the biggest hurdle is the non-availability of spawn in the open market. Besides, farmers also have to place their orders in advance. ‘‘Public institutions have failed to provide us quality seeds at the right time in the right quantities,’’ fumes a farmer. ‘‘That is why we have to fall back on private producers, who are not accountable to anyone.’’