Socio-Economic Impact of Mushroom Farming in Local Community: A Study of Kalika Municipality, Padampur, Chitwan District
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Rural Development
Abstract
Mushroom cultivation can directly improve livelihoods through economic, nutritional and
medicinal contributions. Mushroom is a popular food due to their special flavour, nutritive
value and medicinal properties. Mushroom cultivation can help reduce vulnerability to poverty
and strengthens livelihoods through the generation of a fast yielding and nutritious source of
food and a reliable source of income. Mushroom cultivation will improve the socio-economic
condition of farmers, families and solve employment problems of both literate and illiterate of
rural areas and semi-urban.
The main purpose of this study was to determine the impact of mushroom cultivation on socioeconomic
condition
of
beneficiaries.
The
study
also
aimed
at
explaining
the
socio
demographic
characteristics
of the respondents with exploring the relationship between all these
characteristics and their income from mushroom cultivation of the respondent.
The research study was conducted on socio-economic impacts of the mushroom farming to the
local community of Padampur, Kalika-Chitwan who were directly involved in the same. It was
a descriptive as well as analytical study of about the socio-economic impacts of the mushroom
farming. Total 50 HHs were randomly selected to fulfill the objectives of the research. The prestructured
questionnaire
was
designed
to
meet
the
objective
of
the
study
and
was
filled
by
the
key
person
as
a
respondent.
In
this research, socio-economic impact of mushroom farming on farmers was analyzed
thoroughly. Farmer‟s education and occupational background, land holding size, structure of
the house, no. of livestock in house, social respect and medical treatment by their family
members have been found continuously improved.
Regarding the age group of respondents, 38% of the 50 HHs belong to age group 40-50. Based
on the field survey it was concluded that most the respondents 46% were appeared school level
education. Based on the field survey it was concluded that most the respondents 46% were
appeared school level education. It was concluded that the percentage of the children going to
private school has been increased as compared to before, data interpretation shows that 46% of
the HHs sends children to private school for good education. Regarding social structure 32%
HHs mushroom growers belong to janjati and only 4% belong to dalit sector while brahaman
and kshetri are 20% each.
According to study 90% HHs growing oyster mushroom due to ease of production and profit
within short time while 4% of HHs growing both oyster and white button mushroom. They
were increased saving in banks and also agreed on overall financial improvements after starting
mushroom farming. 80 % in the HHs out of 50 HHs agreed for getting better medical treatment
as compared to before, Overall, it was concluded that people involved in mushroom farming
were having better social and financial status as compared to before which was based upon the
data provided by the 84% of the HHs in 50 HHs.
The mushroom farming is gradually increased with facing different constraints found during
survey. The major problem facing are lack of information about marketing, availability of
good quality spawn, high price of spawn, lack of technical knowledge to increase productivity,
marketing, product storage, preservation and product development and non-availability of
technically sound labour.