The Tripura government has approved an amount of Rs 1.07 crore for setting up a Mushroom Spawn Production Unit in West Tripura district. The project will be taken up under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) and is aimed at improving rural livelihoods and supporting small-scale farmers and women engaged in mushroom cultivation.
Officials said the new unit is being planned to help local mushroom growers, mostly women associated with TRLM and commonly known as didis, who currently depend on spawn supplied from outside the state. Because of this dependence, growers often face higher costs, delays in supply, and uncertainty during peak cultivation periods. The government believes the proposed unit will help solve these problems by ensuring a steady and affordable supply of quality spawn within the state.
With the establishment of the unit, mushroom spawn will be produced locally and supplied to interested didis at a lower cost. This is expected to encourage more households to take up mushroom cultivation, increase production, and improve income opportunities for rural families in West Tripura and nearby areas.
As part of the preparation, a team of TRLM officials recently visited Solan in Himachal Pradesh, which is known at the national level for mushroom research and spawn production. During the visit, the team studied existing systems, production techniques, and management practices. Officials said these learnings will be adapted to match Tripura’s local climate and farming conditions.
A mushroom spawn production unit is a specialised facility that produces the seed required for growing mushrooms. The process involves preparing pure cultures, sterilising raw materials such as grains, inoculating them under controlled conditions, and allowing them to grow in a clean environment to prevent contamination. The upcoming unit will have proper infrastructure, power backup, and trained staff to maintain quality standards.
