Wildlife-affected farmers in Dadeldhura turn to mushroom cultivation

Dadeldhura: Farmers in Dadeldhura who have been facing repeated crop damage from wild animals such as wild boars and monkeys have begun cultivating mushrooms as an alternative livelihood.

According to the Agricultural Knowledge Center, Dadeldhura, farmers in the district have been increasingly attracted to commercial mushroom farming in recent years. Mushrooms produced in Dadeldhura are being supplied to hilly districts of the Far West as well as the Terai districts of Kailali and Kanchanpur, enabling farmers to earn significant income.

District Coordination Committee Chief Gagan Singh Bhandari, who is familiar with mushroom cultivation, said that mushroom farming offers good prospects for farmers affected by wildlife. He stated that by constructing tunnels on small plots of land, farmers can achieve good production and income while avoiding damage from wild animals. He added that commercial mushroom cultivation is currently being carried out in 70 districts across Nepal, with an annual production of 14,000 metric tons.

Bhandari further said that farmers are increasingly attracted to mushroom cultivation due to the absence of market problems. Mushrooms have become a reliable source of income, with farmers able to earn up to Rs 400 per kilogram.

He also informed that Dadeldhura is currently producing a large quantity of Kanye mushroom species along with a smaller amount of Shitake species.