People at Nongspun and IewMawlong market in East Khasi Hills may not realise that the mushroom they are buying is carefully cultivated under a controlled environment for days. The farmers from Wahramkhar village travel 6 to 65 km by road to sell their products in the markets.

A women group in Wahramkhar village cultivate these mushrooms. With the money earned, the group members purchase materials like plastic, big post and sheds etc. for the next planting and balance profit is shared between the members.

“I have benefited from the mushroom cultivation as I could not work like others due to health problems but through this mushroom cultivation, it provides job opportunities,” shares Tanborlang L. Lyngkhoi, a member of the mushroom cultivation group.

Mushroom cultivation is one of the means of livelihood which help the people generate income within a month, and it is easier and save time unlike any other crops which consume time, and more efforts for a better result.

Wahramkhar is a small village under the Caritas India’s FARM Northeast programme with 13 household and a population of 52 in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya. This remote village has very limited opportunities for work and livelihood apart from cultivation and charcoal making. The main crops grown are potatoes, sweet potatoes, yam, pumpkin, paddy, mustard leave etc. There is no market in the village, people travel 6 km to go to Nongspung or IewMawlongmarket which is 65 km by road to buy and sell their necessary things.

Social Service Centre (SSC), Shillong, the local partner of the Caritas India FARM programme interacted with the women group and realised that they are interested in mushroom cultivation to enhance their income through alternate livelihood. The group shared that they came to know about mushroom cultivation from the farmers who cultivated oyster mushroom at Nongspung village which can start with less input to gives a better return for income generation. They feel that mushroom cultivation will provide the opportunity to earn beside from agriculture especially during the crisis of pandemic.

Under the Covid 19 Relief Response of FARM III, these women group got an opportunity to start up oyster mushroom cultivation. Through the support of Caritas India and the initiatives of SSC, the group has earned Rs. 10,500 during November-December 2020 from the mushroom cultivation and they are continuing the cultivation. The group had cultivated the second round of oyster mushroom and earned Rs. 8,000 during the month of April 2021 by spending only Rs 3,000.

Mrs. Spilaris L. Lyngkhoi, one of the members of the mushroom cultivation group was elated to share that through such cultivation her income is going to stable especially during these hours of the pandemic. The programme has not only enhanced their income but also provided livelihood opportunities to new members of the group. The success of this women group has inspired other villages to take up mushroom as a means of livelihood.