Country’s second-largest mushroom facility in dire straits

The National Mushroom Development and Extension Sub-Centre in Rangamati, the country’s second-largest mushroom growing facility by area, began off well but is now experiencing a number of problems.

The majority of the centre’s equipment has gone out of service due to a lack of funding, almost as soon as the project, which aimed to make low-income families self-sufficient, expired and was not extended.

According to local sources, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) established the seed production centre on 1.5 acres of land in Asambasti of Rangamati Sadar in 2009.

Subsequently, hundreds of farmers living on the town’s outskirts began commercially farming mushrooms by collecting seeds from the facility.

After the project expired in 2013, the facility went back into seed production through a revolving fund of Tk 2 lakh
in 2018.

However, seed output has decreased significantly over the years, with just 150-200 seeds produced presently, compared to 2,000 seeds when the facility first launched in 2009.

Now, because of a lack of sufficient seeds, farmers are unable to produce enough mushrooms to sustain their livelihood. The officials concerned, however, are hoping that resuming the project will alleviate the issue.

A recent visit revealed that the lab and training centre at the mushroom growing facility was in disarray. The factory’s ceiling had collapsed and on one side of the shattered ceiling, workers were busy preparing seeds. Furniture and equipment were dilapidated and many of the offices, residences and training facilities have been abandoned.

At night, the facility became a hangout for local drug addicts, locals said.

Md Yasin, a worker at the facility, said, “Because of the collapsed ceiling, it is difficult to make conduct our production during the rainy season. All the raw materials get wet and so we have to halt production.”

Another worker Abdus Sattar Shuvo said, “Initially, according to demand, 3,000-4,000 seeds were produced every day. However, it is presently between 150 and 200. Despite local farmers’ demands, it is unable to produce sufficient seeds.”

Sumed Chakma, a mushroom grower, said: “Even though there is a market for mushrooms, production is limited by a seed shortage. Due to a scarcity of seeds, several farmers have had to cease their operations. Many people are unemployed.”

Saiful Islam, deputy assistant agriculture officer of the facility, said: “We continue to carry out the activities on a small scale with the use of some obsolete equipment even after the project has expired.

“The demand for mushroom seeds is high, but due to the financial crisis, we are unable to meet it. We are now continuing our operations with a revolving fund, but we are unable to meet demand. The crisis will be over if the project is restarted.”

Mezbah Uddin, the horticulturist of the facility, said: “Based on our requirement, I have recently made an estimate which has already been sent to the National Mushroom Development and Extension Centre in Savar. If the proposal is approved, we will be able to resupply the mushroom producers with the appropriate seeds.”