Muzaffarpur, March 4: The authorities of Rajendra Agriculture University (RAU), Pusa, Samastipur are planning to engage Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and former armymen to disseminate the technology of mushroom production and farming in the state.

Mushroom production has become important because of its nutritional and medicinal qualities. It also generates income for the farmers.

The university has spoken with the CRPF personnel and they would sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with north Bihar’s group centre of the CRPF stationed at Muzaffarpur.

M.L. Choudhary, the vice-chancellor of RAU told The Telegraph: “Mushroom farming is livelihood for the rural people and it has nutritional value that could help wipe out malnutrition among the children.”

The vice-chancellor said: “Mushroom farming can be done at a low cost and being a protein supplement the mushroom growers will get a good price.” He also said: “The CRPF personnel will be trained by scientists of RAU and they will then teach the villagers.”

The vice-chancellor said: “Mushroom farming has emerged as a milestone to boost the rural economy and facilitate opportunities of livelihood to the rural people.”

RAU has decided to train the farmers in mushroom farming under the Agriculture Innovative Project, said Choudhary. The state is a leading producer of rice, wheat and straw. Straw is used as feed for animal, he said.

V.K. Choudhary, the nodal officer of mushroom farming in RAU, said: “The university has developed technologies for mushroom cultivation that can be used throughout the year.”

He said: “The adopted mushrooms are oyster, button, paddy straw and milky white.”

The vice-chancellor said: “Mushroom is fibrous and it can be eaten in many forms because of its medicinal importance. The varsity has developed low-cost technologies of spawn production from the mother culture of mushroom to facilitate the demand of seeds.”