NAMSAI, Apr 1: In a significant move towards agricultural self-reliance, ICAR-KVK Namsai has established a state-of-the-art mushroom spawn laboratory at Juna-IV village under Lathao circle. The facility was developed through funding provided by ICAR RC for NEH, Meghalaya, under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) Project.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by local village headmen and 65 farmers representing Juna-IV, Juna Kuli, and Juna Kachari villages.
Dr Utpal Barua, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Namsai, highlighted the laboratory’s role in fulfilling a long-standing regional need. He emphasized that the facility will ensure local growers have access to high-quality spawn at affordable prices directly at their doorstep.
Looking ahead, Dr Barua announced a strategic vision to adopt four to five nearby villages to create a dedicated mushroom production cluster within the district.
Local agricultural officials, including the DHO of Chongkham and the ADO of Lathao, noted that the laboratory is poised to meet the rising demand for local mushroom spawn. They jointly called upon the area's youth to collaborate with the KVK, urging them to seek advanced training in mushroom production and value addition at ICAR institutes across India.
The village headman Juna-IV advocated for the continued introduction of modern agricultural technologies to make the sector more attractive to the rural workforce.
The event concluded with a pledge from Chow Lachit Thamoung, a progressive local farmer who will manage the laboratory’s production with KVK support. Thamoung committed to assisting fellow growers in the surrounding villages, aiming to significantly enhance both farm productivity and family incomes across the region.