52 farmers join KVK knowledge-building tour on mushroom production and processing under ATMA Scheme
Harish Monga
Ferozepur, September 8, 2026: To promote mushroom cultivation as an allied agricultural activity and encourage farmers to adopt diversified sources of income, an exposure visit on “Mushroom Production and Processing” was organised to S.G. Virk Mushroom Farm at Killi Bodla and G.S. Mushroom Farm at Gurali under the ATMA Scheme.
The visit was organised under the guidance of Dr. Gurmail Singh, Deputy Director (Training), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ferozepur. Addressing the participating young farmers at the outset, Dr. Singh encouraged them to closely observe the mushroom cultivation and processing practices being followed by progressive mushroom growers and consider adopting the activity as an allied occupation.
Dr. B.S. Sekhon, Assistant Professor (Vegetable Science), KVK Ferozepur, apprised the participants of the prospects of mushroom cultivation as an allied enterprise and highlighted the key technical aspects involved in the activity. He explained that farmers could prepare compost themselves on a long-term basis, while ready-to-harvest compost bags could also be procured from the Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, as well as reliable farms run by progressive growers. This would enable farmers to start mushroom production at both household and commercial levels.
Progressive mushroom growers Gurlaal Singh and Surinder Singh, who run S.G. Virk Mushroom Farm, shared detailed practical knowledge with the trainees regarding compost preparation, construction and management of mushroom sheds, and canning of mushrooms.
During the visit to G.S. Mushroom Farm at Gurali in Makhu block, progressive growers Gurdeep Singh and Gursahib Singh provided practical information about their small-scale compost preparation unit, air-conditioning unit and mushroom marketing practices.
The exposure visit concluded with the participating farmers expressing their willingness to adopt mushroom cultivation as an allied agricultural activity. A total of 52 farmers from various villages of Ferozepur, Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Faridkot districts participated in the visit.