IUB hosts workshop on mushroom cultivation
The Department of Life Sciences at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) hosted a workshop on modern mushroom cultivation techniques, convening 20 mushroom growers and entrepreneurs from across Bangladesh to advance industry innovation and sustainable practices.
Participants discussed key challenges and shared experiences in mushroom cultivation, according to a press release.
Mushrooms have emerged as a promising crop in Bangladesh, contributing to household nutrition and income for marginal families. However, persistent fungal contamination often originates in a single spawn bag and can spread rapidly across entire farms.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
To address this, Dr Jebunnahar Khandakar, associate professor of life sciences at IUB, developed an innovative solution following nearly three years of research.
The method prevents the spread of harmful fungi without reducing yield and remains safe for both the environment and human health, the release said.
The workshop aimed to address farmers' questions regarding the new technique and collect feedback for further refinement.
It also sought to help entrepreneurs better understand sustainable market access challenges and strategies to increase profitability.
Rezaul Karim Siddique, media personality and host of the agricultural television programme 'Mati O Manush', attended the inaugural session as special guest.
He noted that mushrooms have yet to reach the grassroots level in Bangladesh even after 40 years, largely due to lingering doubts about their status as a regular food item.
He added that the lack of readily available quality spawn and marketing challenges have restricted mushrooms largely to upper- and middle-income groups.
Jamal Uddin Ahmed, founder, Priyozon Mushroom Foundation, Bogura, observed that dropout rates among mushroom entrepreneurs remain high.
He noted that only a small number of entrepreneurs remain in the sector today, despite its many benefits.
He added that the collective effort required among entrepreneurs to grow the sector has yet to materialise.
Mushroom cultivation is an intensive process that requires precision across the entire chain, from tissue culture to marketing, he said.
As perishable products, mushrooms demand close supervision in production, processing, packaging,, and marketing; however, entrepreneurs have not received adequate support from the authorities, he added.
Pro-vice-chancellor Professor Dr Daniel W Lund; Dr K Ayaz Rabbani, dean, School of Environment and Life Sciences; and Dr Md Mahmodul Hasan Sohel, head, Department of Life Sciences, also spoke at the inaugural session.
During the technical session, Dr Jebunnahar Khandakar presented on the new technique.
She emphasised that mushroom cultivation is a knowledge-driven enterprise, where achieving good yields requires continuous learning and ongoing refinement of methods.
In addition to cultivation techniques, she explained the scientific principles underlying the method to equip participants with a broader understanding of both the process and its objectives.
Dr Ikramul Hasan, head, Department of Human Resource Management, IUB, underscored the importance of social media and digital platforms in expanding market reach and customer bases.
He encouraged entrepreneurs to build robust independent brands while also collaborating across the sector.
He noted that collective efforts are vital, as the mushroom market in Bangladesh remains underdeveloped and mutual support can play a crucial role in its growth.
