INDIA
Mr Khanna shows Martin the phase I bunker, behind which the chicken manure storage is visible.
Incubation under newspaper in the sheds. At Manoj Kumar Mushroom Farm.
aim of uniting research, education, the public sector and various stakeholders from the Indian food industry. The agricultural sector accounts for a quarter of the GDP, but there is a signifi- cant shortage of good management, innovation and technical expertise. On the modern campus, scientists, students and advisors work together in various ‘theme centres’ on an ambitious aim – propelling the Indian food industry to rank among the world top. A friendly guide took us on a tour of the well-equipped buildings, but at this time of the day there were not many students around, and little to see in the way of mush- room-related activity. See
www.niftem.ac.in The next day’s programme featured the Inter- national Horticulture Innovation and Training Centre. This institution resembles a green oasis in the tourist highlight Jaipur, capital of the state of Rajasthan. The IHITC is also a collab- orative venture, in this case an alliance of the government, horticultural experts, researchers and Dutch organisation PTC+. However, the centre, under the directorship of the Iranian Dr. Dahiya, works independently to the Indian government. In Rajasthan, the extreme climate and incomplete infrastructure make it difficult for farmers to generate a decent income. The IHITC was established as a powerhouse to improve technical levels of horticulture and create better lives for farmers, in the state, but also in many corners of the country, explains Dr. Dahiya. Practical training sessions are given
36 MUSHROOM BUSINESS
every day, classically in the classroom, but also in the greenhouses dotted about the campus. All the produce is grown organically and part of the yield is sold on the market. Dahiya is looking for expertise to help set up a mushroom unit. During our visit, women from rural communities were being taught about packaging techniques, including mushrooms. We left with the impres- sion of a friendly and open institution, which deserves more funding. See
www.ihitc.org
Khanna Mushroom Farm On the final day before the conference, we travelled 100 kilometres north of Delhi to Gohana Panipat Road in Panipat, home to Mr Khanna’s mushroom farm. The owner has a background in the chicken sector and started the farm 18 months ago next to a rice factory. He grows mushrooms here in five growing rooms and produces his own phase I compost using (short) wheat straw, chicken manure and gypsum, in a ‘bunker’ aerated by two perforated pipes in the concrete floor. After eight days, during which the pile is turned four times, the entire contents of the bunker are filled into a simple tunnel for six days. We noticed the large amount of rice husks left over in the chicken manure, which is not beneficial for the nitrogen ratios, and the compost temperature, which was 65.9 degrees Celsius, whereas 80 degrees is usual. He buys the spawn from Swadeshi (see above). The rooms contain two, eight-tiered metal
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