MUSHROOM CENTRE (An extension of Biotechnology Centre)

Mizoram Science, Technology & Innovation Council (MISTIC) collaborates with and adopts the mushroom technology from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, to establish the Mushroom Centre, with financial funding support from the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. The Centre consists of the state-of-the-art facilities for mushroom culture and production including tissue culture laboratory, incubation and fruiting rooms. MISTIC has also previously established the Centre for Mushroom Production at Saitual, Saitual District, Mizoram in 2021 in collaboration with the Village Council with financial support from North East Center for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR).

 

The mushroom centre is a knowledge, resource and research hub for mushroom in the state. The centre works towards empowering and equiping farmers, youth and entrepreneurs through sustainable mushroom cultivation using technologies suitable for the state. The main highlight of the Centre is the optimization and adaptation of the Japanese Shiitake mushroom cultivation using the locally available bioresources of the state. Other mushroom species such as Elm (Hypsizygus ulmarius), Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), Phoenix oyster (Pleurotus pulmonarius), Sajor-caju (Lentinus sajor-caju) and Splitgill mushroom (Schizophyllum commune) are also cultured and cultivated.

Through various hands-on training programmes, site visits and handholding, the mushroom centre supports and promotes chemical free sustainable mushroom farming in the state. 

 

Activities of the centre:

1. Training and capacity building programmes

2. R&D on various mushroom cultivation, substrate studies, etc.

3. Tissue culture of local species and imported species

4. Spawn production

5. Scientific support to local growers and entrepreneurs