Photo: BSS

NARAIL, June 23, 2025 (BSS) - Mushroom cultivation, also known as 
fungiculture, involves growing mushrooms for various purposes, including 
food, medicine, and other products, is gaining popularity in the district day 
by day as it offers a profitable and sustainable agricultural venture.

The increased interest is driven by the relatively low investment, high yield 
potential, and growing demand for mushrooms, both locally and 
internationally. 

With the cooperation of the Agriculture Department, about 30 small 
entrepreneurs including young farmer Asit Basu of Alokdia village of Shahabad 
union in Sadar upazila have started mushroom cultivation in the district and 
they are cultivating different varieties of fungi, specifically mushrooms. 

Agriculture officials said that mushroom cultivation in this district is 
increasing day by day due to its huge demand in the markets and its good 
prices.

Mushroom farmer Asit said he initially started mushroom cultivation in a 
corner of his house after receiving training from the Department of 
Agricultural Extension (DAE). 

Initially, he started with 50 spawns, but currently there are about 2,000 
spawns in Asit's farm. 

He creates a suitable environment for mushroom cultivation by mixing straw, 
wood powder, wheat husk, calcium lime and water. 

After sterilizing, he keeps them in the lab for 28 days to prepare mother 
tissue. Then, he cultivated delicious edible mushrooms in the packets in a 
special environment. 

In Asit's house, it was seen that white mushrooms had come out of the 
polythene-wrapped packet in a half-ripe tin house. He started this 
cultivation on his own initiative with the advice of the Agriculture 
Department and has now become a successful entrepreneur. 

He also said, "I am the son of a farmer's family. With the help of the 
agriculture office, I received 10 days of training on mushroom cultivation in 
Dhaka. Later, I started cultivating mushrooms at home. Last time, I earned 
Taka 3.5 lakh by selling mushroom chops at the youth fair. Currently, I earn 
Taka 11 to 12 thousand per month by selling those."

Local youth Arafat Hossain said, "I was inspired by Asit's mushroom 
cultivation and decided to cultivate it myself. I will also start cultivating 
mushrooms in a few days." 

Asit's success has encouraged local and neighboring farmers to cultivate 
mushrooms. 

Narail Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Rokunuzzman said the Agriculture 
Department is providing maximum support to the farmers by giving priority to 
mushroom cultivation. 

Those interested are being trained and materials are being provided, he said.

"Training and resources are being made available to those who are interested 
to cultivate mushrooms," he said, adding that the Agriculture department also 
to provide support to those who are willing to learn and improve their skills 
about mushroom cultivation. 

"We are trying to create mushroom villages with small entrepreneurs. If 
educated unemployed youth are interested in mushroom cultivation, self-
employment will be created for them," the official added. 

This is a good opportunity to create employment especially for women. There 
has already been a good response among the consumers here. 

"If the market for mushrooms is created more, its cultivation will also 
expand rapidly," he remarked.